ROADS were closed for about three and a half hours last night after cylinders were found on the site of a fire in a cash and carry.

A 200m exclusion zone was put in place around Booker's Cash and Carry, Edginton Way, Foots Cray, after firefighters discovered the cylinders while battling a pallet blaze.

Every building within the zone, including the Tesco petrol station, had to be evacuated and closed.

The cylinders were identified as propane, not the more dangerous aceteline, and were cooled with water before removing them from the scene.

They then went on to tackle the original blaze and the roads were reopened by about 11.30pm. No one was injured.