NEARBY homes were evacuated early today when fire broke out in car repair workshops at Graham Hall Motors, Westerham Heights Farm, Westerham.

People were roused from their beds and urged to leave after firefighters found potentially explosive propane gas cylinders stored in the 15 metre x 15 metre single-storey building. Further complications were caused by an asbestos roof.

The alarm was raised between 2am and 3am, and six pumps together with support units raced to the scene from fire stations throughout West Kent. The blaze was under control by daybreak but fire crews remained damping down well into the morning.

No casualties were reported but the fire caused extensive damage to the building and an unknown number of vehicles which had been inside.