Residents were forced to flee their homes in York this afternoon when a gas cylinder ignited and became what firefighters described as a potential bomb.

A fireman examines the van which sparked an emergency callout in Wetherby Drive, Acomb, this afternoon.

Wetherby Road in Acomb was under red alert as around 40 houses were evacuated when the flammable gas cylinder caught fire inside the van in which it was stored.

As firefighters struggled to cool the highly-dangerous acetylene cylinder many residents went to shelter with friends and the road was cordoned off.

Firefighters warned the cylinder was at risk of exploding, and it was not certain when residents would be able to return to homes within 200 metres either side of the fire.

Alan Travena, area manager for Acomb fire station went on: "We have what could be described as a bomb in the middle of a residential area.

"If the cylinder fractures as a result of build-up of pressure, we will have an explosive fire which could cause significant damage to the surrounding area."

The van owner had been carrying out welding work when a throwback from his torch ignited the lethal gas, said Mr Travena. Four appliances from Acomb fire station and one specialist unit from Tadcaster were dousing the cylinder with water to cool it down.

Mr Travena said they would stay at the scene, continually dousing the cylinder to cool down the flammable gas.

When they believed they could move the cooled cylinder they would take it and store it in a dam of cold water in a nearby field until it was completely cold. A police spokesman said that they had evacuated residents because of the unstable nature of acetylene and the potential danger to public safety.

He said residents had either gone for a walk or were staying with neighbours until police were able to give them the all-clear to go back to their homes.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.