Homes cleared after workshop fire

The fire is not being treated as suspicious, police said

Fifty homes have been evacuated in a Hampshire village after a fire started in a workshop where gas cylinders were being stored.

A 200m exclusion zone was put in place around the building in Winchester Road, Waltham Chase, after the fire began shortly before midday.

Residents were moved to the village hall because of the risk of explosion.

The fire is out but crews will remain at the scene overnight to monitor the three acetylene cylinders.

A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to the scene at about 1100 BST.

Cause unknown

He said although the fire was out, a crew would have to remain at the scene for the next 24 hours to monitor the potentially volatile cylinders.

Hampshire police said the 200-metre (220yds) cordon would be in place until 1230 on Monday.

A police spokesman said: "Residents in Winchester Road, Solomons Lane, Brooklyn Close and other properties have been moved to Jubilee Hall in Little Shore Road in Bishops Waltham where facilities are being provided for residents to spend the night."

The cause of the fire is not yet known but it is not being treated as suspicious.

An investigation will begin as soon as the site has been made safe, the fire service spokesman said.

Road diversions are in place on Winchester Road at the junctions of Bull Lane and Solomons Lane.