Two men have been seriously injured in a suspected explosion that blew the front of a house off and caused a major fire.

One man was taken to hospital with injuries caused by the blast while the second, a 55-year-old, was injured by falling debris, police said.

The blaze started at around 11.37am today at a house in Dewsbury, and residents said the explosion "shook the whole street".

Shocking pictures from the scene show the front of the terraced house totally ripped off and the interior gutted by the blaze.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, including police, ambulance and fire engines from neighbouring towns, while rescue dogs were used to try to find people in the rubble.

At its height, six fire engines and a helicopter attended the blaze along with the NHS's Hazardous Area Response Team.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "Police were called to a Crescent Walk, Dewsbury, at about 11.37am this morning (31/3) to a report of a house fire.

"Officers and fire and ambulance services attended the incident in which it was apparent a property had suffered significant damage and was on fire.

"A 55-year-old man in the house was taken to hospital to be treated for serious injuries caused by the incident. The injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

"Another male who suffered a head injury after being struck by debris was treated at the scene.

"He was later taken to hospital for further treatment to the injury which is not life threatening.

"Initial enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: "We were called at 11.37 to reports of an explosion at a property on Crescent Walk.

"We have crews at the scene from, Cleckheaton, Mirfield, Dewsbury, Rastrick, Ossett and Morley plus the aerial appliance from Wakefield."

Witness are urged to call Kirklees CID on 101 referencing log 401 of March 31 with any information.