Injuries as US jet leaves runway

Nearly 40 people were hurt when a Continental Airlines jet taking off from Denver left the runway and caught fire, officials have said.

All 107 passengers and five crew members had to exit the Boeing 737 using emergency chutes.

Thirty-eight people have been taken to hospital, Denver International Airport's aviation manager told the Associated Press news agency.

The cause of the incident on Saturday evening was not known, officials said.

The weather in Denver was cold but not snowing when the jet, which was due to fly to Houston, went off the runway.

Ground crews were quick to extinguish the flames, airport spokesman Jeff Green told the AP.

None of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening.