Van fire evacuees return home

Green Goddesses hosed down the van and its cargo

More than 100 people who were moved from their homes after a van loaded with explosive gas cylinders caught fire have returned home.

The incident happened in Spring Close, Sherborne St John, near Basingstoke, at about 0445 BST on Wednesday.

About 150 people living nearby had to spend the night in the village hall.

Hampshire Police and two Royal Navy Green Goddesses were called to put the fire out.

Gas cooling

A 200-metre exclusion zone was set up and the road was closed.

Residents were finally allowed back after 0900 BST on Thursday.

The gas cylinders in the van contained compressed oxygen, nitrogen and oxy-acetylene.

Under Home Office guidelines, oxy-acetylene must be cooled down for at least 24 hours after such an incident.

Hampshire Police said there were no injuries.