by Joe Walker

joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk

Families were evacuated from their homes on Friday night after a car repair shop went up in flames.

A 200-metre cordon was set up around two burning outbuildings in Chilham after the blaze sparked fears of an explosion.

Nearby roads and the railway line running through the village were also shut down as more than 40 firefighters and six engines tackled the flames for nine hours.

Crews were called to the scene in Pickleden Lane – behind Crossroads Motors – at 6.40pm.

It quickly emerged there was a cylinder in one of the buildings containing acetylene – a potentially explosive gas used for welding.

Nearby homes were evacuated and the A28 Ashford Road was shut by police.

Les Clinton and wife Chris, who live in a bungalow 40 yards from the blaze, were among those evacuated.

But the couple were allowed to return for their three dogs and Les’ cancer and diabetes medication.

Grandfather-of-six Les, 62, said: “I’d nodded off when I heard the dogs barking in the kitchen. I thought they wanted to go out in the garden but then I saw this massive red fire out of the kitchen window.

“I could actually feel the heat coming through the window. It was unbelievable.”

Les called 999 and went to collect Chris from the train station, but was stopped from returning to his house on the way back.

He said: “They wouldn’t let us past the Ashford turn-off. I said we had the three dogs in the house and we couldn’t just leave them, so they let Chris go back in and get them.

“We bundled them in the car and drove to my son’s house in Challock. He then went back at 10pm to get my medication.

“It wasn’t until about 2.45am that the police called to say it was all right to go back. I’m just glad no one was hurt.”

David Cole-Biroth, who works at Crossroads Motors, raced back to the site after he was alerted to the blaze at 7pm.

He said: “I knew we had cars running along a back fence just yards from the fire so thought I’d be able to move them away.

“But I only got as far as the Ashford turn-off and the firemen wouldn’t let me anywhere near the place.

“I hung around for 20 minutes but knew there was nothing else I could do. I came in this morning expecting to see a line of mangled cars along the fence, but they were fine.

“We were very, very lucky.”

The owner of the repair shop – which rented the buildings – was visibly distraught at the scene this morning.

He said: “That’s everything gone. Only the cars are insured.”

Fire investigators are trying to establish the cause of the blaze.