RESIDENTS were told to stay inside today while firefighters tackled a blaze in a garage at Snodland, near Rochester, where a gas cylinder was stored.

Two crews of retained firefighters from Larkfield were called to the fire at a house in Dryland Road at about 8.05am.

The occupant of the house had removed the small acetylene cylinder from the garage and taken it into the garden before fire crews arrived.

A hose was turned on it as a precautionary measure, and people in nearby homes were told to stay indoors.

The road was closed for a time while firefighters made sure the cylinder was cool.