An explosion in a rubbish bin that shattered windows in a Northampton street appears to have been caused by a large firework, police have said.

Army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene in Billing Road, near St Andrew's Hospital and opposite Barry Road, after the explosion at about 0400 GMT on Thursday.

Local residents were advised to keep to the back of their houses while the area was made safe, and drivers were urged to stay away.

However, surrounding roads were reopened at about 1300 GMT once experts had decided the explosive was probably a firework placed inside a bin at a bus-stop.

Glass shattered

One resident of a nearby house told BBC Radio Northamptonshire about the explosion.

"I was woken by a big blast noise. I didn't know if it was a gas explosion or a car.

"I came running downstairs to our front room and noticed that the windows were scattered all over the floor."

There have been no reports of any injuries.

Police inquiries are continuing.