POLICE have evacuated a large number of homes in Padgate.

A fire near to a garage on Marsh House Lane near to Padgate Lane started around 5pm.

Emergency services were worried about cannisters near to the blaze and evacuated around 300 homes and put up a cordon for 200 metres. The cordon started to be lifted around 8.30pm.

Families with houses within the cordon were sent to the former Fairfield Primary Schoool but almost all have now been allowed home.

At 10pm, fire chiefs said they were well on the way to cooling the gas cylinder and allowed most people to return home.

Police were initially warning people to avoid the area but a number of roads are now open again.

Meanwhile Network Rail closed the Manchester to Liverpool trainline as the blaze was close to the tracks. A replacement bus service was set up. The track was reopened around 9.50pm.

Firefighters from Warrington and Birchwood were on the scene although only one crew is now on site.