SIX homes were evacuated over fears that a gas cylinder would explode during a blaze at a garage.

Firefighters were called to a fire behind a terraced house in Louisa Street, Halliwell, on Thursday at 9.30pm.

The garage contained motorbikes and what was believed to be an acetylene gas cylinder.

Watch commander Andy Shaw, from Bolton Central fire station, said: “A safety cordon was established due to the danger of explosion because of the cylinder involved.”

Due to the volatile nature of the gas, six nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution and 20 more were visited by officers who told residents to stay in rooms furthest from the fire.

Crews remained at the scene for more than 24 hours, cooling the cylinder by spraying it with water.

Road closures were put in place around Louisa Street, which remained until 9.20am yesterday when it was discovered that the cylinder contained oxygen.

Oxygen cylinders are less dangerous once cooled and the evacuated residents were allowed to go home.

A police spokesman said: “Inquiries are under way to establish the cause of the blaze. The fire service was continuing to dampen down the cylinder yesterday morning.”

A Bolton Council spokesman added: “We can confirm that six houses were evacuated on Thursday night following a fire in Louisa Street.

“In four of the homes, residents went to stay with friends and family. Residents in the other two houses were accommodated at the Premier Inn in Chorley New Road, Horwich.”

The occupier of the terraced house, named by neighbours as Malcolm McGrath, is believed to have lost a Yamaha Raptor quad bike, an RM250 scrambler bike and a Yamaha R600 motorbike in the blaze.

One resident, who was evacuated to the hotel with her children, believed her neighbour had been targeted by arsonists.

“He told us there was a fire and told us to get ourselves out,” she said.

“Then the fire brigade came and told us not to go back in our house. It was frightening. I don’t want to live on this street any more.”

Another resident added: “The flames were coming over the roof. I think it was deliberate because the blaze went up so quickly.”

pkeaveny@theboltonnews.co.uk