Six children injured in gas blast

Six children have been injured in a suspected gas explosion at an empty block of flats in Kent.

The victims, all thought to be in their early teens or younger, were at a building in Marine Parade, Folkestone, when the explosion occurred.

A 13-year-old boy suffered burns in the blast but police said his injuries were not life-threatening.

A Kent Police spokesman said officers are treating the incident, which happened at 1745 BST, as suspicious.

He added: "Six children, all thought to be young teenagers or pre-teens, were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, mainly suffering from superficial wounds.

"Police investigating this incident will be speaking to the children about the explosion."

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the blast caused 80% damage to three floors of the five-storey building.