At least two people have died and 26 injured after a suspected gas explosion at a fried chicken shop in northern China, state media and local officials have said.

Buildings and cars were destroyed by the blast in the city of Sanhe in central Hebei province, around 50 miles (80km) east Beijing, at about 8am (local time) on Wednesday.

The force of the explosion sent a large orange fireball, followed by billows of grey smoke into the air and almost as far as buildings on the opposite side of a dual carriageway in front of the eatery, video posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, showed.

Other video shot in the aftermath showed the destroyed frontage of buildings, mangled cars, with glass shards and other debris, including pieces of concrete and metal, in the streets, and some objects still on fire.

The injured were taken to hospital, state broadcaster CCTV News said, as more than 150 emergency personnel, including rescue workers, firefighters, health and other officials, and 36 vehicles rushed to the scene.

A gas leak in a fried chicken shop caused the explosion in the town of Yanjiao, city emergency officials said in a statement.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control, they said.

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Last year, Chinese officials issued detailed guidelines on the use of gas appliances and cookers to try to prevent such incidents.

Social media posters on Weibo said the explosion occurred near a cultural centre in the town.

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It happened where a nearby metro line was being built, the independent Chinese weekly, the Economic Observer, said on its social media account.

An investigation has been opened, according to social media posts.

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