A man has been taken to hospital after an explosion partially collapsed the roof of a house in Battersea. 

At 1:47pm today (Thursday) firefighters were called to the scene of an explosion on Elsley Road.

The explosion damaged an end-of-terrace house in the road, with part of the building collapsed.

One man left the building before fire crews arrived and was treated at the scene by ambulance crews.

A 25-metre cordon was put in place and residents of affected properties were evacuated.

One of the London Fire Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used as an observation tower at the scene of the explosion.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters were called to an explosion at a house on Elsley Road in Battersea this afternoon.

“An explosion affected the whole of an end-of-terrace house, resulting in a partial roof collapse.

“One man left the building before the Brigade arrived and was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

“A 25-metre cordon was put in place and affected properties were evacuated.

“One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as an observation tower.

“The Brigade was called at 1347 and the incident was over for firefighters by 1634.

“Fire crews from Chelsea, Wandsworth, Brixton and Clapham fire stations attended the scene.

“The cause of the explosion is under investigation.”