An explosion that killed a man in Rotherham on Tuesday afternoon is now believed to have been caused by a "household accident", South Yorkshire Police have confirmed.

Contrary to our earlier report that the cordon had been lifted and the road reopened, police clarified on Wednesday morning that officers remain at the scene on Clifton Mount, where the road stays closed and a cordon remains in place.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "We have been working at pace with SYFRS [South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service] to carry out enquiries and while the exact cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed, at this stage in our investigation we believe it to have been caused by a household accident. There is no risk to the wider public and we are continuing to carry out enquiries to fully understand the circumstances of this tragic incident."

Emergency services were first dispatched to Clifton Mount shortly after 13:15 BST on Tuesday after residents across the wider area reported hearing a massive bang that could be heard miles away. Upon arrival, emergency responders found a man who had died at the scene.

A total of three fire engines from Rotherham and Tankersley stations were dispatched to help secure the site.

The blast caused sudden disruption for neighbours. Local resident Craig Cockram, who lives in a neighbouring three-storey block of flats, described hearing a noise sounding "as if there was a shooting" roughly half an hour before police evacuated the building. Speaking after the incident, he said: "I'm just shocked, bemused. I can't believe what's happened."

Gas network distributor Cadent Gas assisted emergency crews on site and confirmed that the explosion was "not an issue related to our gas network", offering their condolences to the victim's family.

Enquiries into the full circumstances of the incident remain ongoing. I'll be following this one — check back for updates as more information is confirmed.