More roads have been closed following a gas explosion in Salford.

At

7.15am on Tuesday 2 November 2010, police were called to the Silver Street area

of Irlam following reports of an explosion.

Officers

attended and discovered that at least three houses have been damaged.

Silver

Street, Merlin Road, Morrillion Road, Cutnook Lane and a number of other routes

in the area are closed off while police and the other emergency services work

at the scene.

Merlin

Drive, McLean Drive, Neville Drive and Hartis Avenue have now also been closed.

A

number of homes have been evacuated.

Around

10 people have been taken to hospital, but there are no specific details of

injuries or conditions as yet.

People

are advised to avoid the area.