This is the moment a Sky News crew narrowly avoids a suicide bomb blast as they run from sniper fire on the front line of the Iraqi offensive against Islamic State in Mosul.

Sky News Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay is at the front of the offensive along with cameraman Nathan Hale, Iraq producer Haider Kata and security adviser Mike Mawhinney.

On Wednesday, they were forced to shelter inside a vehicle as a huge explosion rocked the nearby area and then run across open ground covered by IS snipers when their position came under heavy fire.

Image: Moments before the explosion: The vehicle two of the Sky crew sheltered inside is circled

It is thought that a nearby digger saved them from the brunt of the blast.

Ramsay said: "Sometimes you have to run into a front line, even though your brain is screaming 'don't go'.


:: 'I felt my arms and legs - they were all there'

"Dismounted from armoured Humvees in this sniper-filled battle space, there is no choice.

"We're basically hiding in rubble now, trying to find a way to get out of here. At the moment it's impossible to move, there's just too much action taking place."

Image: Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay scrambled inside this vehicle to escape the blast

Iraqi government forces have besieged IS militants around Mosul's Old City as they close in on the historic mosque where the extremist group declared its caliphate in 2014.

The forces have made significant gains in recent days, seizing a main bridge over the Tigris river.

:: Watch the full video below