MORE than 30 homes were evacuated in Four Marks near Alton last night after a massive fire ripped through a garage bordering the busy A31.

This morning the Chawton End Peugeot Garage looked more like a bomb site, with part of the workshop roof missing after a gas canister exploded through it during the early stages of the blaze.

Sixty firefighters from nine stations across the county were called in to try to quell the fire, with fire experts warning people to stay away from the scene. Emergency services sealed off the A31 around Four Marks and everyone within a 200m radius of the blaze was rushed to safety amid fears more acetylene and oxygen gas tanks could also explode.

So intense was the blaze and so concerned about explosions were Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, that even the firefighters were pulled back from the site at one point. Instead static clamps were used to position hoses so that the firefighters could continue to pump thousands of gallons of water an hour on to the flames in a bid to cool the dangerous canisters down, without the crews needing to be in close proximity to the flames.

A spokesman for the fire service said initial reports suggested there could be up to six of the highly volatile gas canisters on the site, which need up to 24 hours to cool down to become stable and safe again. He added that more than 20 calls were received from people in Four Marks within five minutes of the blaze starting, shortly after 7.15pm last night, and the first explosion being heard.

Today police were expecting the A31 to remain closed for both the morning and evening rush-hours, with the fire service confirming it was unlikely the road could be reopened until, at the earliest, around 7.30pm this evening.

Those families evacuated were initially taken to Alton Leisure Centre, though it is thought many people were subsequently housed by neighbours for the night.

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, argon and acetylene cylinders along with up to 2,000 tyres on the site, so there was a potential it could be dangerous.

"That's why we closed the main road, because the garage is just off it. There was also a compressor with compressed air, so the firefighters were kept well back from the flames.

"In fact we were forced to use static clamps to keep the water jets in place while the fire fighters retreated to a safe distance.

"Acetylene in particular is a very volatile substance, especially when heated, and you can only cool it down by spraying it with cold water.

"However it takes around 24-hours to cool back down to a safe level, so the roads around the garage need to stay shut until then in case another canister explodes."

An aerial ladder platform was also brought in from Basingstoke, but the strong winds last night hampered efforts to deploy it, while also fanning the flames.

Mr Gates confirmed an investigation it the cause of the blaze would be carried out, though the fire service's special team of detectives would have to wait until the gas tanks were back to a normal temperature before being allowed anywhere near the scene.

He added: "The evacuation plan went very smoothly and much praise must go to all the firefighters who attended as well as all the other emergency services."

Three fire crews are expected to continue pumping water into the workshop all day, with nearby neighbours told not to return to their homes until the all clear has be given sometime later today.