A Walkden flat was blown apart in a suspected gas blast which left three people needing hospital treatment for burns, shock and glass injuries.

Firefighters described the scene of the early morning explosion on Kingsley Road, Walkden, as "a warzone" as the roof and walls were blown out of the first floor flat.

Only the skeleton of the end flats remained. The force of the blast ripped dozens of tiles from the roof, which had collapsed and completely blew away the walls of the third floor flat.

The second floor was also devastated, lace curtains dangled from the front window and the living room with television, sofa and paintings on the wall could be seen from the streets below.

The force of the explosion could also be measured by the hundreds of shards of glass which littered the gardens of the houses opposite.

The drama began shortly after 5am and three fire engines, police, representatives from Transco raced to the scene.

Station officer David Lenagan of Farnworth Fire Station said: "We believe there was a leak of gas in the property that the occupier had not detected. He lit a cigarette in the bedroom and the gas ignited.

"There was only a small fire but it was a large explosion. It has blown the roof off and the walls out and glass from the windows has sprayed out into the street below."

Mr Lenagan said a full investigation into the blaze is now underway.

A police spokesman said: "An investigation has been launched into this incident but at this point it is not thought to be suspicious."

The flat's occupier, James Bleakley - who has the nickname "Nelly", was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital suffering from severe burns.

He was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at Withington Hospital.

A woman who lived below Mr Bleakley in the three-storey flats was also taken to hospital suffering from shock.

A man living nearby was also taken to hospital after standing on broken glass.

It is believed the man was rushing over to the flats because his daughter lived there.

Station officer Lenagan said the debris from the blast landed on the neighbouring properties causing more damage.

"It looked just like a warzone," he said. "The damage to the flats was very severe and I think they will have to be pulled down."

The back window of a Ford Fiesta parked outside the flats was also blown out in the blast.

British Gas Transco spokesman James Ruane said they had yet to determine whether the explosion was caused by a gas leak.

"We were on site almost immediately," said Mr Ruane. "The cause of the explosion has not been confirmed as a gas leak at this stage. We are now waiting for the Health and Safety Executive to arrive and carry out investigations."

Gary Perkins, aged 19, who lives next door but one to the flats said: "I was woken up at 5am by a massive explosion, but at first I just thought it was a thunderstorm, because of all the heavy rain. But then I saw bits of glass in the road and a man running about. I was totally shocked and had no idea what could have happened, but when I came outside and saw the actual flats, I was amazed anyone could have got out alive."

The trainee electrician tried to help people in the street, and then made his way to Tesco with the other evacuees where he was given a hot drink. He thinks he will now be moving into his mum's house.

Ten families were evacuated from nearby flats, with the manager of a neighbouring Tesco store offered soup and shelter until alternative accommodation could be found by Salford City Council.

Area housing manager Mr Maurice Leigh who received a call at home this morning and immediately went to the scene said he was looking at the rehousing about 12 residents. But he added it could be more once the amount of structural damage had been assessed. He said the whole block may have to be demolished depending on what engineers found.