At least six people have been wounded in a car bomb blast outside the high court in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, police say.

One of the injured is reported to be in a serious condition.

The wounded have been taken to hospital. Police say it is not clear who planted the device.

A series of blasts have hit Peshawar over the past year. A fortnight ago, a powerful bomb blast in a hotel in the city killed at least 24 people.

"Six people were injured in the blast which happened outside the gates of the high court. It was a car bomb, we have started investigations," senior police officer Iftikhar Khan told AFP news agency.

Most of the injured were passers-by, the police said.

Reports said the vehicle in which the bomb was planted was destroyed and nearby cars were also damaged.

Police have sealed off the area.

PHOTO CAPTION

A car bomb exploded outside the high court building in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, wounding nine people, police said. (AFP)

BBC