PEOPLE living in part of High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, were forced to leave their homes last night after fire threatened to explode acetylene gas cylinders.

Police set up a 200 metre exclusion zone and more than 90 evacuees were not allowed to return for 24 hours while the gas cylinders were cooled with water.

The alarm was raised at 5.10pm when a block of garages in Nursery Road, High Brooms, was reported to be on fire.

Two fire engines from Tunbridge Wells attended, quickly backed by a further four appliances and specialist units from other stations in the area. Some 40 to 50 firefighters were involved in dealing with the incident, under the command of Station Officer Lawrie Kidman, commander at Tunbridge Wells fire station.

A Kent Fire Brigade spokesman said eight firefighters donned breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze, which was fought with four jets and two hosereels.

The fire was under control within an hour but then the gas cylinders were found in a disused laundry being used as a store. It led to an immediate evacuation of the area.

The fire brigade spokesman said: "Acetylene gas is very unstable when heated, and becomes highly sensitized and liable to explode. A jet was set up to hose down the cylinders, keeping them wet and cooling them throughout the 24 hour exclusion period."

Specialist fire investigators were due to check the cylinders today before deciding whether or not to allow people back into their homes.

Most of those evacuated went to stay with family or friends, though some were accommodated in local hotels for the night. The cause of the fire is not yet known.