POLICE have closed off a busy main road in Burnley for the next 24 hours amid fears a gas cylinder could explode after a fire broke out at a garage.

The incident happened at Finsley Gate garage, next to the former Cabline Taxis office in Finsley Gate, after a van parked next to the building went up in flames.

The blaze spread to the garage and the roof and windows of the building were destroyed in the fire, which started at around 6.30am this morning.

Police closed off Finsley Gate after firefighters requested an exclusion zone be put up when they discovered acetylene cylinders used for welding.

They expect the road will be closed off to motorists and pedestrians for the next 24 hours.

John Phethean, area commander, said: "We have had a garage on fire on two floors because of a van that was on fire earlier this morning which spread to the roof.

"The fire is now extinguished but we discovered acetylene cylinders during the fire. If they are subjected to heat above 400 degrees centigrade, which I suspect they have, they have the ability to explode. They are also sensitive to shock so they can't be moved or else they will explode.

"We are trying to cool the cylinders down because they have been known to explode up to 24 hours after an incident so we are not prepared to take any chances which is why we have implemented the exclusion zone as a precautionary measure."

A police spokesman said: "The road will be closed off for the next 24 hours or until the fire brigade say it is clear."