A gas leak is strongly suspected of being the cause of an explosion at a house in Lanarkshire in which a family of four died.

A man, woman and two children - a girl aged 13 and a boy of 10 - died in the blast at 0530GMT which devastated the detached bungalow in the town's Carlisle Road.

The bodies of the woman and children have been recovered but so far, the man has not been found.

Police said the search had been halted amid fears of more gas leaks.

A number of neighbouring houses were damaged in the explosion. Ten people suffered from shock but were otherwise uninjured.

Gas investigation

The gas firm Transco was called out to isolate supplies to the house and an investigation into the cause has begun.

Debris from the house is spread around the area. A fridge landed on the roof of a neighbouring house and a child's pram could be seen in the rubble.

Pieces of the house were blown onto a factory across Carlisle Road, which in turn is threatening to fall on an old people's home.

Near neighbour John McCaulay, 40, said: "It was when I looked out of the window that I realised it was an explosion.

"It's pretty tragic. I was hoping, when I realised it was a house, that it would be empty. There were 25 to 30 foot flames shooting into the air.

"I was just hoping the family was away. This is a tragedy so near to Christmas."

Chief Superintendent Louis Munn, of Strathclyde Police said the death of a family, particularly at this time of year, was a tragedy.

Focus falling on gas

"I'm absolutely surprised that more people weren't killed," he said.

Chief Supt Munn did not want to speculate on the cause but added: "We are looking at the possibility of gas."

Assistant firemaster Phil Robinson said: "The situation when we arrived was that there was a house completely destroyed and severe damage to neighbouring properties.

"There were small outbreaks of fire in the damaged area. The crews set about trying to find casualties. Neighbours were already helping each other."

A police spokeswoman said the people from neighbouring properties damaged in the incident were being looked after by friends and relatives.

An adjacent property was almost completely covered with the wreckage and all its windows had been blown in.

Concert postponed

A carol concert, due to go ahead at Larkhall Academy and starring one of the 13-year-old girl who died has been postponed as a mark of respect for the family.

A spokeswoman for the education authority said classes and activities had gone on as normal today but that pupils were "very quiet".

A family friend said the dead boy won a dancing competition at the school disco on Tuesday night.

Local minister the Rev Jim Hastie said later that the tragedy had devastated the community.

Mr Hastie, of Chalmers Parish Church, said: "This is a terrible tragedy to have happened and it's a tragedy for the whole community.

"We are a close-knit community and we will have to draw strength from one another."

Politicians visit scene

Two politicians, Clydsdale MP Jimmy Hood and MSP for Clydesdale Karen Gillan, went to the scene late on Wednesday morning.

Mr Hood said: "It a terrible tragedy and I feel devastated by this disaster. My heart goes out to the families involved.

Ms Gillan said: "It is especially tragic at this time time of year with Christmas just round the corner."