Grays firefighters stopped a large-scale evacuation in Motherwell Way, West Thurrock this morning, when they put out a fire involving an oxy-acetylene cylinder.

The cylinder caught alight in a workshop in Motherwell Way, West Thurrock at around 9am.

Nearby businesses were being evacuated as the two fire crews from Grays and Orsett got to work in special breathing apparatus.

Crews used a spray plate and two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire which was out by 10.50am.

Assistant Divisional Officer Stephen Pritchard said: “When crews arrived they were faced with a flames coming out of the open valve of a cylinder affecting the building. They found a safe place behind a wall and were able to get water on the cylinder and put the flames out.

“We then tested the cylinder and found it hat not been heated as a result of the fire so a large scale evacuation was not required and everyone was able to return immediately.

“It is thanks to the action taken by the initial crews that this did not become a large protracted incident involving a fairly large evacuation.”