Firefighters are searching for a "missing person", while three have potentially life-threatening injuries after an explosion at a home in Croydon.

Three people have potentially life-threatening injuries following an explosion in Thornton Heath, the PA news agency understands.

The three were taken to hospital following an incident in Galpin’s Road.

Your Local Guardian: (photo: PA)(photo: PA)

Richard Welch, London Fire Brigade's deputy assistant commissioner, told Sky News that four people have been rescued and firefighters are still searching for a "missing person".

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said four people have been treated following the explosion in Croydon, with three patients being taken to hospital.

“We have treated four patients at an incident in Galpin’s Road, Thornton Heath,” they said.

Your Local Guardian: photo: London Fire Brigadephoto: London Fire Brigade

“One was discharged on scene and three others were taken to hospital.

“We remain on scene with our emergency service colleagues.”

London Fire Brigade is at the scene of a house collapse in south London following an explosion.

LFB said it had six engines and around 40 firefighters at the scene in Galpin’s Road, Thornton Heath, where a terraced house has collapsed.

Your Local Guardian: Emergency services at the scene (photo: PA)Emergency services at the scene (photo: PA)

Fire crews from Norbury, Mitcham, West Norwood, Woodside and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.

The cause of the fire and explosion is not known at this time.

London Fire Brigade said they have rescued three people following an explosion in Thornton Heath.

In an updated statement on its website, the brigade said: “A terraced house has collapsed following an explosion and neighbouring properties have also been damaged.

“Three people have been rescued.”

Dozens of worried residents have gathered beside a police cordon at the scene.

People who had been evacuated from Galpin’s Road in their pyjamas said their windows had shattered early on Monday morning from the force of the explosion.

Two neighbours, Kutoya Kukanda, 50, and Delroy Simms, 62, said they helped rescue three children from the rubble at around 7am, but they feared a girl aged around four or five was still trapped inside.

They believed the children’s mother had been evacuated.

They said the house next door had also been badly affected by the blast.

Some residents at the cordon said they had reported a strong gas smell two weeks ago, and others said they had been feeling dizzy and sick over the last two days.