Explosion fear causes traffic delays

The fire brigade has created an exclusion zone

Motorists are facing day-long traffic delays after police closed roads in east London due to fears that gas cylinders could explode after a fire.

Roads around the Graham Welding plant in Hancock Road, Bow, will be closed or restricted until 2000 BST on Tuesday after a fire broke out at the premises on Monday evening.

Police are warning motorists of prolonged delays in the area and are recommending drivers use alternative routes if possible.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said the 100-metre exclusion zone had been created due to concerns that 14 acetylene gas cylinders could explode.

Tunnel restrictions

The spokesman said: "If they explode, they are like a bomb going off so we have had to tackle them from a distance, spraying water at them to try and cool them down."

The A12 in the Bow area and some local roads were being closed and traffic through the Blackwall Tunnel restricted for most of the day, as a safety precaution.

No one was seriously hurt or injured in the incident.

Meanwhile 100 firefighters fought a major fire at a derelict psychiatric hospital at Cane Hill, in Coulsdon, Croydon, on Monday night.

A brigade spokesman said nobody was hurt or injured but the whole of the rear south building has probably been destroyed.

He said the cause of the fire would be investigated.