St Albans: Explosions heard at car workshop fire

The industrial area is close to homes, with the flames and smoke visible from neighbouring properties

Emergency services are dealing with a fire at a car workshop, with a plume of thick black smoke seen across a city.

Two explosions were heard coming from an industrial area off London Road, St Albans, shortly after 11:00 BST.

Twelve fire appliances are at the scene and efforts are being made to stop the fire spreading to other units which had been evacuated, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Police said there were no known casualties at this stage.

The East of England Ambulance Service said it had sent an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle and one man was treated at the scene for minor burns and discharged.

Twelve fire appliances went to the scene from across Hertfordshire

Officers added that surrounding roads had been closed and the area should be avoided.

A nearby children's nursery was also evacuated.

A plume of thick black smoke was visible around St Albans

Billowing smoke was seen coming from the car workshop fire

Surrounding roads were closed

A witness who was attending a gym session on the industrial estate at the time of the fire, said: "We went out and could see black billowing smoke coming from the tyre depot at the top of the industrial unit.

"[The fire] has just moved its way down the units, getting more and more dramatic until we've all been evacuated over a couple of ladders to the back of the golf course.

"I imagine the whole of the industrial estate will be pretty much finished.

"It's primarily garages and gyms down there so there will be a lot of gas cylinders, there will be flammable material - a lot of the gyms have wooden equipment.

"A lot of businesses will be ruined today."

Tristan, who works at an adjoining gym, said it was "amazing watching how the fire service set up so quickly"

Tristan, who works at an adjoining gym, said it was "amazing watching the fire service, how they set up so quickly, but how a fire can still drastically take its own way.

"We've got all the firemen in the world down there and it's moved to the next unit."

A fire service spokeswoman said crews had to work in "extremely difficult conditions"

Firefighters will remain at the scene as long as they are required

Emergency services have been on the scene of the fire since about 11:00 BST