Fire reported after massive explosion in England

An explosion in Leicester, England on Sunday evening has been declared a "major incident" by police.

It occurred around 7 pm on Hinckley Road, and a shop was engulfed by flames.

The incident is currently being treated as a search and rescue operation, with six fire engines engaged.

A fire and rescue service spokeswoman said "it is unknown if people are injured or trapped".

She said the affected property is a two-floor building with a loft conversion that had suffered a "pancake collapse".