Residents flee workshop fire

The fire seriously damaged the workshop

Around 40 people were evacuated on Friday after a fire swept through a car repair workshop in Bristol.

The blaze started in the premises on St Marks Road, Easton, at 0200 GMT on Friday morning.

There were several explosions - caused by gas cylinders blowing up - when fire crews first arrived on the scene.

Residents living within 50 metres of the blaze were offered the chance to be evacuated: those that wanted to leave were taken to a local primary school and served breakfast.

Investigation

Evacuated families had returned to their homes by 1400 GMT on Friday.

Firefighters spent much of the day damping down the building, which has collapsed, amidst concerns that at least one gas cylinder was still inside.

A brigade spokesman said: "It was quite a serious fire but our major concern was that the cylinders would explode after being heated.

"Fortunately there were no explosions and the cylinders are being cooled."

St Marks Road and nearby side roads were closed between the junction with Stapleton Road and the railway bridge.

Avon and Somerset Police said the cause of the fire was not yet known and an investigation was under way.