A MAN from Oldham has been charged in connection with an explosion which killed five people in Leicester.

Akran Ali, aged 37 and of Drake Close, Oldham Edge, has been charged with manslaughter and arson with intent to endanger life over the explosion on Sunday night.

Hawkar Hassan, 32 and of Eld Road Coventry and Aram Kurd, 33 and of Hillary Place, Leicester have been harged with the same offences.

Four of the people killed in the blast have been named as Shane, 18, and Sean Rajoobeer, 17, Leah Beth Reek, 18, who was Shane's girlfriend, and Viktorija Ljevleva, 22, with the fifth victim believed to be Shane and Sean's 46-year-old mother Mary.

The charged trio are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Two other men, both from East Anglia, have been arrested over the blast and continue to be questioned by police.

The force said they were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to cause an explosion and for offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Human remains were recovered from the ruins of the building after the blast which was followed by a large fire.

Specialist officers continued to sift through the wreckage in search of clues, with the scene expected to remain cordoned off for several days at least.