Two killed and major incident declared after explosion

Two people have been killed and a major incident declared following an explosion in Bristol, police say.

Avon and Somerset Police were called to a residential address in Sterncourt Road, Frenchay, at about 06:30 BST before officers cordoned off the area and evacuated nearby residents from their homes to a "temporary rest centre".

"Given the recent change to the UK threat level, we would like to reassure the public from the outset we are not treating this as a suspected terrorist incident," the force said.

"We ask people not to speculate around the circumstances and continue to encourage the public to avoid the area while emergency services respond," it added.

'Jumped out of bed'

Bradley Shepherd, who lives on Bradeston Grove, said he heard a "large explosion noise" at about the time emergency services were called.

He said: "I sort of jumped out of bed to see what was going on.

"There was nothing immediately that I could see, but within minutes the police were arriving, attending the property. We had all emergency services there within 10 minutes, armed police.

"Within maybe about 15 or 20 minutes, once they had it cordoned off, they were instructing all the neighbourhood, the majority are probably 60-plus years of age, to actually evacuate their properties and take residence in the local Harvester [restaurant]."

Police said the cordon had been put in place "as a precaution to help keep the public safe".

There was not believed to be any significant damage to other properties, they added.

Officers were also carrying out inquiries at a property in Speedwell linked to the incident, the force said.