WORKERS on an industrial estate had to be evacuated after a commercial garage that had highly explosive gas canisters in caught fire.

A 200-metre cordon was set up after acetylene cylinders, which are triggered by heat, were found in the burning building on Forge Way on the Cleveland Trading Estate, in Darlington.

Residents were told to keep their windows and doors shut due to thick black smoke.

Twenty-year-old Tim Hickman, who lives in the area, tweeted: “Rather large looking fire going on in Darlington”.

And Katie Blundell added: “Looks to be a big fire somewhere in Darlington. I can see something from the top of Teesside Uni campus”.

Jamie Collins, 28, said: "The smoke was visible for well over an hour. It got a lot thicker and darker so I knew it must have been something serious. 

"I couldn't smell anything but there were a lot more emergency vehicles around."

Three fire engines attended the scene, which was reported at 16.42pm today, and a hazardous material officer was also requested.

East Coast mainline was notified as trains ran within 150 metres of the incident.

A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said the cause of the fire was being investigated.