MORE than 60 firefighters were called to a blaze at a car dealership's workshop off a main road in Hampshire last night.

Crews were called from nine stations across the county to the fire at the Chawton End Peugeot garage off the A31 at Four Marks, north of Winchester.

The main road was closed through Four Marks for several hours while firefighters from Winchester, Basingstoke, Rushmore and Eastleigh, among others, attempted to get the blaze under control.

Crews remained on site into the morning and the A31 was expected to be closed for much of today in case cylinders in the workshop exploded.

Members of the public were being urged to stay away from the area last night.

All the surrounding houses were evacuated last night as the workshop contained oxygen cylinders, a compressor which uses compressed air, some 2,000 tyres and argon, meaning about 40 people had to leave their homes.

Most stayed with friends or relatives while others were taken to nearby hotels.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Mike Gates said: "We were called to the incident at about 7.15pm.

"The A31 was closed and we evacuated houses in a 200-metre radius around the incident - about 40 people.

"There were oxygen cylinders, argon and 2,000 tyres so there was a potential it could be dangerous.

"That's why we closed the main road, because it's just off it. There was also a compressor which uses compressed air so the firefighters were standing back."

An aerial ladder platform from Basingstoke was also called to the blaze, but firefighters had difficulty using the equipment because of strong winds.

The road was expected to remain closed for most of the day until firefighters was satisfied that the cylinders were cool enough to be safe.