SOME 20 people had to be evacuated from their homes on Tuesday after a dramatic gas explosion tore through a house in a quiet cul-de-sac in Edgware.

Two men were injured in the blast, which caused half the property to collapse and sent windows flying across the street.

A bath tub and other debris were jettisoned into the garden and smoke was seen billowing from the Highview Garden home, which later had to be pulled down.

Andy Snipper, 52, who lives directly opposite, said: "I was making a cup of tea when there was suddenly this massive boom.

"I rushed to the window and there was smoke coming out the front of it and bits flying everywhere."

Mr Snipper called the ambulance while a next-door neighbour went in and pulled one of the men from the wreckage.

Bernard Bellman, 76, who also lives on the street, felt his own house shake with the force of the explosion.

He said: "I looked outside and there was all this smoke and the house was completely demolished."

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 10am and police officers cordoned off the road.

A police spokesman said: "At 10.12 on Tuesday morning police were called to what was believed to be a gas explosion at 11 Highview Gardens, Edgware.

"The road was closed to all traffic and nearby homes were evacuated as a safety precaution."

Two men thought to have been living in and working on the house were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A London Ambulance spokesman said: "We sent two fast response cars, two ambulances, an equipment support vehicle, a call duty manager and an ambulance operations manager to the scene.

"The crews treated two adult males for minor injuries and took them both to Barnet hospital."

Fire crews also attended the incident and reported that 50 per cent of the house had collapsed in the blast.

What was left of the house - which neighbours said had been undergoing extensive renovation - was being knocked down on Tuesday evening.

Representatives from National Grid and Edf Energy were at the address within an hour of the explosion.

A National Grid spokeswoman said there appeared to be no faults with the external pipework, which the company is responsible for, but said the main gas supply at the property was cut off immediately.

Police are continuing to investigate and the Health and Safety Executive are due to launch an inquiry on Wednesday.

Most residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes on Tuesday afternoon.