DOZENS of homes were evacuated tonight over fears that gas cylinders might explode at the scene of a fire.

Police evacuated families and elderly people from homes on roads including School Green Avenue and Old Road in Thornton, Bradford, just after 6.

A police spokesman said the fire was at an 'industrial premises' but residents said it appeared to be in a back garden on School Green Avenue.

They described seeing flames higher than the house roof. Police cordons were set up to prevent access to roads near to the fire.

Some residents were invited to keep warm inside Rocca, an Italian restaurant on Thornton Road.

Others waited in police cars or chatted to neighbours behind police tape.

Khadijah Ashfaq, 28, was cradling her seven-month-old daughter Makudas on the corner of School Green Lane, along with a handful of other residents.

Mrs Ashfaq said: "It's freezing cold but it's a chance to meet my neighbours as I have just moved in."

One resident said he believed that a neighbour had been burning rubbish when it "got out of hand".

"Police knocked on the door and said we were being evacuated for our own safety. Some gas cylinders were possibly near the fire and they were getting hot."

Police and fire crews were at the scene. Residents were allowed back in at around 8.40pm after the cylinders had cooled.