Homes damaged in major fire on residential road

Two homes were severely damaged and had their roofs destroyed in a serious fire on a residential street on Sunday.

Police and fire crews said they were called to Eddy Road, Kidderminster, at about 21:30 BST.

West Mercia Police said no-one had been injured but a number of homes had been evacuated.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had spread from a caravan to the properties, with a further two houses also suffering smoke damage.

A fire service spokesperson said an investigation into the cause of the fire had started on Monday, and it was not yet possible to say whether the incident was being treated as suspicious.

When the BBC went to Eddy Road on Monday, one house had an entire wall and a roof that had been destroyed, while a second house had a large section of its roof missing plus other damage.

Residents said they had heard an explosion on Sunday evening, before seeing a large amount of smoke and flames.

“I thought it was someone who was setting fireworks off," said Howard Branford.

“Next thing, the flames were right up in the air.”

The fire service said one property had been “100% involved in fire”, a second had been “70% involved in fire”, and a further two had suffered smoke damage.

'Community spirit'

The police said Wyre Forest District Council was helping people who had been evacuated to find alternative accommodation.

On local Facebook groups, people have also been offering places to stay and clothes to those affected.

“It shows the community spirit round here," said Leighton Fish, whose grandparents live in one of the smoke-damaged homes and had been evacuated.