Woman found dead after Guildford flat explosion Published duration 20 March 2012

image caption The cause of the explosion is under investigation by police officers

The body of a 45-year-old woman has been found at a block of flats in Surrey following an explosion.

A 57-year-old man taken to hospital after the incident in Guildford has been transferred to a specialist burns unit, police said.

Fire crews were called to Bedford House in Onslow Street at about 17:30 GMT on Monday. The cause of the explosion has not been revealed.

Formal identification of the woman has yet to take place.

She has not been named by Surrey Police.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out but further toxicology tests are needed to ascertain the cause of death.

A spokeswoman said the man, whose injuries were initially life-threatening, was first treated at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.

He was later transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital at East Grinstead where he is in a stable condition.

A police officer was also treated for the effects of breathing in smoke following the incident.

Police are still investigating the explosion, which happened in one of the flats, and the scene remains cordoned off.

The resident of the flat above said he saw flames and smoke coming from the kitchen window as the rest of the block was evacuated.

Most were allowed to return to their homes during the evening. Road closures were put in place but later lifted.