Residents were evacuated over concerns a gas canister could explode in Pembury last night.

Firefighters were called to a timber framed building used as a forge in Hastings Road just before 10pm.

A cordon was put in place and local properties were evacuated, due to an acetylene cylinder in the area that had been exposed to radiated heat.

Crews set up a cooling jet on the cylinder and monitored it until it had cooled down, and residents could return to their properties.

The cause of the fire, which destroyed the building, is believed to be accidental.

There were no injuries.