Father-of-one, 63, killed in gas explosion that razed his suburban house to the ground and blew the windows out of neighbouring houses scattering debris 400 metres

The unnamed man, believed to be a 63-year-old father of one who works for a university in Leeds, died at around 7.30am this morning when his house in Haxby, a suburb of York, was razed to the ground. Neighbouring properties were also damaged and debris from the blast has been found in surrounding streets. Neighbours were woken by a loud blast, which some said sounded like 'an aeroplane crash' and nearby homes have been evacuated. Pictures taken in the street, Springwood, show the home levelled to a smoldering pile of bricks and wood. Police today said the incident had 'all the hallmarks of a gas explosion' but they are investigating whether there are any suspicious circumstances.