TWO men were taken to hospital for treatment following a gas explosion at house in Wallasey this morning.

Firefighters were called to a property in Lucerne Road, near Wheatland Lane at 12.17am. The ground floor was well alight by the time they arrived.

Three fire appliances attended the call-out and the fire was extinguished by 1.43am.

Group Manager Paul Murphy, from Wallasey Fire Station who attended the call-out, said: "The fire took a while to tackle due to a ruptured gas pipe in the property.

"Transco was requested to isolate the gas supply to the property so the fire could be extinguished.

"A bay window's glass had been blown out and there was some damage to brickwork at the property. No part of the structure had collapsed.

"Firefighters worked quickly to make sure people were safely out of the building and two neighbouring properties and tackled the blaze.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way."