DOZENS of people, including schoolchildren, had to be evacuated from streets and alleyways close to a garage when flames threatened to ignite a gas cylinder on the premises yesterday.

Emergency services were called when the blaze - sparked by a welder's torch - engulfed Hope Street Garage in Blackhill, Consett, County Durham, at lunchtime.

The fire destroyed two vehicles, including a 1937 Austin, damaged another and burned through the roof of the workshop.

The incident also caused traffic chaos, when police were forced to seal off the busy Durham Road after the fire broke out at 1pm.

Mechanic Barry Forster described his horror at seeing the car he was welding catch fire.

He said: "I was underneath the car when I saw flames coming out of it above me.

"I grabbed the fire extinguisher and managed to put the flames out, but as I was lowering the ramp the fire started again. There was nothing I could do to stop it."

Sergeant Paul D'Earth of Consett Police, who was the first on the scene said: "There was a thick pall of smoke hanging in the sky when we arrived.

"Firefighters were concerned about the hazard posed by a gas cylinder and my immediate worry was for the number of school children who would be using the nearby alley during lunchtime.

"I had to call for back up and we shepherded up to 50 people from the streets, including many schoolchildren. Residents were urged to stay indoors and keep their windows shut."

Because the fire hydrant was on the opposite side of the road to the fire, police had to seal off Durham Road from The Cricketers pub to the Number One roundabout. Durham Fire and Rescue Service station officer Keith Wanley said ten firefighters on two appliances were called to the blaze.

He said: "When we arrived the garage was well alight, including two vehicles inside.

"There were concerns because of oxyacetylene cylinder and we immediately put a jet of water on it to prevent it from exploding."

Following standard safety procedures, firefighters then prepared a bath of water to keep the cylinder cool for the next 12 hours.