A man was seriously burned in an explosion following a confrontation with bailiffs and police at a north London townhouse.

Dozens of firefighters were called to the property in Finsbury Park after the blast occurred following an apparent dispute inside.

The entire basement of the house on Stapleton Hall road was ablaze on Wednesday afternoon. Seventy-two firefighters from 10 fire engines were battling the flames.

The dramatic scenes unfolded when bailiffs attended to evict a man who was apparently threatening residents with an axe and a knife.

A witness said: "When the bailiffs came the man chased them around with an axe and knife.

"The police were called and came to try and calm him down.

"He ran into the basement and the police were trying to talk him round. That's when the explosion happened. I think it was with gas."

Another witness, said to be a friend of the homeowners, said they believed the man suffered from mental health issues.

"This is not the first time something like this has happened. I know the family, I have lived here all my life."

The witness said the suspect lived in a basement flat which was separate from the rest of the house.

The London Air Ambulance was scrambled to the scene and the property was evacuated. One person had managed to get out the house before the Fire Brigade arrived.

A police officer suffered an arm injury in the blast and a third person was also treated at the scene.

No neighbouring properties are thought to have been affected by the blaze.

Police cordoned off the road which was packed with emergency vehicles this afternoon.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called at around 11:50am to a disturbance at a residential address in Stapleton Hall Road.

“Officers attended the location and, as they arrived at around midday, there was a localised explosion within the property.

“At this early stage, police are aware of two people injured. One man has sustained serious burns, and a police officer sustained an arm injury. We await further details."

Police said there were no arrests.