Homes evacuated during garage blaze

Fire crews were called out to a premises off Savile Place just after 1.30pm with as many as 30 firefighters from Mirfield, Dewsbury and Batley involved in fighting the fire.

Police, ambulance and Kirklees Council emergency planning office was also called into action to create a 200m cordon around the fire because of the presence of acetylene cylinders.

Householders were not expected to be allowed back into their homes until today as concerns remained about the cylinders potentially overheating and exploding.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said an investigator would be working with the police to establish the cause. Last night, a spokesman said it was too early to say whether the fire was suspicious.