Families had to be evacuated after fears gas-filled cylinders could explode during a blaze at a workshop.

More than 35 residents spent the night away from home as fire raged at garages in Fitzmaurice Avenue, Eastbourne.

Police carried out house-to-house knocks on surrounding properties as the blaze threatened to engulf the cylinders just before 5pm yesterday.

A team of 25 firefighters from Eastbourne, Pevensey and Hailsham battled the flames for more than three hours.

At 6.18pm, crews decided to force an evacuation of nearby properties as the threat of an explosion grew.

Residents from the four-storey Sussex Court were moved to the Sovereign Centre.

Firefighters used thermal-imaging equipment to monitor the cylinders in the blazing property while water was sprayed to cool them.

Crews remained at the scene overnight and today to ensure the cylinders were safely cooled before giving the all-clear for residents to return, which was expected to be this afternoon.

A spokesman for the brigade said: "Residents were evacuated as a precaution. We could not be sure how dangerous the situation would be so we decided not to take any chances."

Daphne Collingham, of Fitzmaurice Avenue, said: "There was a lot of smoke and lots of emergency services but thankfully no casualties."

Residents in the area said today they had fought for many years to stop the garages being used to mend cars.

Grandmother Dorothy Osborne, of Fitzmaurice Avenue, said: "They are private garages and should not be used as workshops."

Initial inquiries by fire officials suggest the blaze was started accidentally. Police remained at the scene this morning.