A woman was heard screaming for help after a gas explosion which police are treating as attempted murder.

A man and woman were  taken to hospitalised after the blast at a block of flats on Govan, Glasgow, yesterdayon Friday morning.

The incident – believed to be domestic in nature –unfolded at around 7.05am, with the loud blast and woman’s screams waking neighbours.

The couple were taken by ambulance to separate Glasgow hospitals.

The 26-year-old man, who was taken to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, suffered burns and was described by medical staff as being in a critical condition.

The 30-year-old woman, who was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, sustained minor injuries and has since been discharged.

Emergency services evacuated 23 residents from the flats and surrounding homes as a precaution, but have since allowed them to return home. 

The street remained closed to vehicles throughout Friday.

Shocked eyewitnesses reported seeing a woman screaming for help after the explosion ripped through the flat, leaving the window frames bent and the glass smashed. 

Denise Smith, who lives in the house next door to explosion, said: “I woke up to the glass shattering and I could hear the woman screaming.

“She rushed her grandchildren out of the house and saw glass and parts of the window’s all over the road.

“I thought it was a domestic at first and then I could hear the neighbours screaming for help.”

Forensic officers were seen carrying out investigations in and around the property yesterdayon Friday morning, including measuring the blast distance by how far shards of glass had travelled. 

Neighbour Lola Ayangoke said: “I was awoken by a large bang and I came outside to see the woman screaming for help out of the window. 

“She was leaning out the window screaming ‘help me, help, help’.

“The man was cowering down next to her in the window.”

Ms Ayangoke re-enacted the man’s position in the window, by crouching down and placing her arms over her head. “He didn’t say a word, I think he was in shock. She was carried out the window on the ladder,” she added.

Police said inquiries had revealed the explosion was a “deliberate act within the flat”.

Superintendent Craig Smith, of Greater Glasgow Police Division, said: “The flat has been significantly damaged. However, the impact of the blast did not affect other properties in the block and the 23 people who had been evacuated have been allowed back into their homes. 

“Kennedar Drive remains closed to vehicular traffic until further notice.” 

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene. 

A spokesman said: “Operations Control mobilised three fire engines and an aerial appliance to the scene, where two casualties were assisted to safety and passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.”

The flats are owned by the Glasgow Housing Association.  Managing director Jennifer Russell said: “Our staff were on the scene to help residents affected as soon as we were alerted. 

“People were allowed back in shortly after the incident but we’ll continue to support them with anything they need.”