Worshippers Safe After Temple Blast

Worshippers believed to be trapped inside a blazing Hare Krishna temple in Leicester after an explosion have all been accounted for.

A third of the building in Thoresby Street was destroyed by the blast, the cause of which has not yet been established.

Firefighters were battling the flames and search and rescue dogs were requested to help find anyone in the rubble, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A spokeswoman said: "All persons are accounted for, meaning no-one is trapped inside the rubble."

Dillon Kidger, who works for a roofing company in the same road as the temple, Thoresby Street, said he rushed outside after hearing a large explosion.

He said: "It was actually that loud that the building shook. I heard banging noises and people screaming, there was a big fire and the building was gone in about five to 10 minutes.

"I saw a few people praying outside and people walking round with cuts to their hands and faces from the shrapnel."

A number of people were believed to be inside the temple at the time of the explosion.

Worshipper Guaranga Sundara Das said a friend at the scene told him there was an apparent gas leak and an explosion following it, with windows shattered and glass flying out.

He said the only injuries were believed to be "minor bruises" and he thought there were around 30 people inside at the time who had all since been accounted for.