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Two adults have died after an explosion at a house in Sterncourt Road, Bristol, this morning, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Police described the explosion as “suspicious” and said a “major incident” had been declared.

Police statement on ‘major incident’

An explosion was reported at a house in Sterncourt Road in Bristol around 6.30am this morning, Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement.

“The cause of the incident is being treated as suspicious, and a major incident has been declared,” the force said.

“Two adults have died at the address and their families have been updated.

“Emergency services are following well-rehearsed plans in response to this incident.”

Deadly explosion not being treated as terror related, police say

Police have said they are not treating the explosion as a suspected terrorist incident.

Avon and Somerset Police also said its officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the blast.

“Given the recent change to the UK threat level, we would like to reassure the public from the outset we are not treating this as a suspected terrorist incident,” the force said.

“Our enquiries are at an early stage, but at this point we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.”

Witness heard loud ‘bang’

A witness has described hearing a loud “bang” at around 6.30am.

The man told Bristol Live he left his home but was told to “get inside” by armed police.

He said neighbours had seen smoke billowing from one of the houses.

“There were two or three unmarked police cars and a number of ambulances and police vehicles, and now the bomb squad is there,” the man said.

He said a white tent had been put up on the green.

The man and his partner were told to leave their homes and go to a nearby pub.

Officers carrying out enquiries at second property

Police have put a cordon in place around the house where the explosion happened, in Sterncourt Road.

But officers are also carrying out enquiries in another area of Bristol after the explosion.

“Officers are also carrying out enquiries at a property in Speedwell linked to this incident,” Avon and Somerset Police said.

The force said a cordon had been put in place at Sterncourt Road “as a precaution to help keep the public safe”.

It said people living within the cordon were “being evacuated to a temporary rest centre”.

“There is not believed to be any significant damage to other properties,” the statement added.

Residents evacuated to nearby pub

Residents evacuated from their homes after the explosion have been sent to a nearby pub by police.

Avon and Somerset Police said a cordon has been put in place and people living within it have been evacuated to a temporary rest centre.

Bristol Live said the residents had gone to the nearby Snuff Mill Harvester pub and a staff member told the news website: “There are quite a lot of residents that have been brought here.”

It reported around 70 people are at the pub, where they have been given free food and drink.

Explained: What is a ‘major incident’?

Police have declared a major incident after the explosion at an address in Sterncourt Road this morning.

The College of Policing defines a major incident as “an event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agencies”.

Avon and Somerset Police said the cause of the blast is being treated as suspicious.

However, police are currently not looking for anyone in connection with the incident.

They are also not treating it as a suspected terrorist attack.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.