A TERRIFIED resident today spoke of the distressing moment she was told to evacuate her home following a blaze in Colne last night.

Around 37 people had to leave their homes in the Langroyd Road area when cylinders of explosive welding gas were discovered at a suspicious fire.

Fire chiefs said the volatile cylinders would have exploded like shrapnel bombs if they had caught fire - putting lives in danger.

Resident Bernadette Storey, 59, who was evacuated from her home, today said: "People could have been killed. I just hope they find whoever is responsible for this."

Firefighters arrived around 6pm to deal with a blazing derelict garage between Langroyd Road and North Street.

But at 8pm they discovered cylinders of oxygen and acetylene and decided to evacuate families from 20 surrounding homes.

Four fire engines from Colne and Nelson were at the scene and firefighters remained there overnight. Smoke could be smelled in the area, as damping down continued this morning.

Police cordoned off parts of Langroyd Road, North Street and Cook House Road in case of an explosion.

Residents were sent to the Byron Road Community Centre, then to family and friends, or to a hotel in Nelson.

Today, some were expected back at the community centre for lunch. And if the scene is safe, they could be back in their homes by teatime.

Mrs Storey, of Cook House Road, said she was in bed when her daughter, Lyndsey, banged on her door and alerted her to the fire at the rear of her house.

Mrs Storey, was out walking her West Highland terrier, Shelley, at 8am today to find out if she could go back to her home.

She said: "It was terrifying. I could see all the flames from my garden because the garages are right next to my garden.

"My next-door neighbour's fence has been destroyed. Everybody is very upset about it. I was in bed and I dread to think what could have happened if the fire wasn't spotted when it was.

"People could have been killed, I just hope they find whoever is responsible for this."

Mrs Storey, who lives alone, added: "I recently had a major heart attack and have been quite poorly so this is the last thing I need. I stayed with my daughter in Belgrave Road last night but I just want to be allowed back home. It's very distressing, especially for my dog. She has been really scared as she's not used to being away from home."

Colne fire station officer Richard Taylor said: "The fire began in one derelict garage but four garages were destroyed. It took about two hours to control the fire.

"Oxy-acetylene is used for welding but it's very explosive. It's quite commonplace for people who work on cars at home, but it's classed as a bomb.

"If these cylinders had exploded, shrapnel would have gone everywhere. It's life-threatening. That's why we had to evacuate homes within 200 metres of the garage.

"The fire is suspicious and there were reports of children being seen in the area earlier. There may well be an investigation."

Lyn Breckle, of Lancashire County Council social services, was handling activities at the community centre. She said: "The majority of people are staying with family and friends, while around four elderly people are at the Great Marsden Hotel in Nelson.

"We dealt with both young families and elderly people, and everyone's mood was very good. I was called out at 8pm.

"People's details were taken, their family or friends were contacted, and pets were taken to local kennels by the RSPCA."

The organisations involved included the Red Cross, Women's Royal Voluntary Service and St John Ambulance.