A car workshop was completely destroyed by a fire after a gas cylinder exploded yesterday afternoon.
Thirty-five firefighters attended the scene in Crow Lane, Romford where they were faced with flames at the front door.
One of five gas canisters exploded inside the paint workshop, and there were fears the fire could spread, leading to the closure of Crow Lane and Jutsums Lane while crews dealt with it.
Rosie Sweeney was working at The Flooring Centre, directly in front of the workshop, when she heard the explosion.
“I could hear a purring noise and I looked on the CCTV and saw thick black smoke coming from the building,” she said.
“There’s about 10 people who work there, they all ran out the front.”
The owner of the workshop did not want to talk to the Recorder, but firefighters said he was “distraught”.
“It’s ruined the shop,” one crew member said.
Six engines from across Havering as well as Barking and Dagenham were called as well as police.
No one was hurt in the fire and the road was opened at about 4.30pm.
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