A FIRE involving gas cylinders caused a number of roads to be closed off in Warrington in the early hours of Saturday.

A garage fire at a business in Collins Green left that road, Penketh Lane and Penny Lane shut for several hours along with a railway line because of safety concerns.

Firefighters attended the property at 6am where they found that a number of cylinders containing acetylene were involved in the blaze.

A spokesman for Warrington fire brigade said: "The cylinders have to be cooled down and left for 24 hours to ensure that they are safe. Fire crews had to tackle the blaze from safe areas."

Collins Green resident William Kay said: "Some residents were evacuated before 7am and the main railway line was also closed off. The fire brigade did a very good job but there weren't any real diversion signs for residents."