A church on the island of Jersey has asked for prayers after an explosion at a block of flats has left three people dead and more than dozen missing.

The blast happened around 4a.m. on Saturday morning in the capital, St Helier, and flattened the three-story building.

Emergency services searched for survivors through the night, but by Sunday morning called of rescue efforts and said they didn’t expect to find anyone alive.

The Dean of Jersey made St Helier Parish Church available for people who wanted light candles for all who were affected by the tragic incident.

According to the Daily Mail, Rev Mike Keirle, said: "Everybody who has been displaced because of the explosion has somewhere to stay this evening. People have been queuing up to help and do all they can to offer food and warmth.

"There has been a wonderful, caring response from the community.'

The church held Sunday services as normal and said in a Facebook post: “Please pray for those involved and their families as well as for the emergency services.

Anthony Abbott whose flat was damaged by the explosion told BBC News: "We heard an explosion at about four o'clock this morning, we got up and we found [debris] in the flat, all the windows had been [pushed] in, the staircase had been damaged and there was fire everywhere outside. I'm a little bit shocked, but we are lucky we're OK."

Robin Smith, Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police confirmed that fire services were at the block of flats on Pier Road on Friday evening after residents reported the smell of gas. He told a news conference that 20 to 30 people had been evacuated from the building and that two were “walking wounded”.

Smith did not comment on the cause of the explosion, and said it would be under investigation.