A FIRE in a Bury timber yard caused traffic chaos for thousands of commuters and shoppers after it threatened to spread to nearby gas cylinders.

The fire at the premises on Bolton Road has left the surrounding area closed to cars and shoppers.

Bolton Road will be closed between Seven Street and Ainsworth Road while businesses in the area from Ainsworth Road to Christens Road will stay shut until Saturday because of fears that volatile acetylene cylinders could still explode following the fire.

Diversions left early morning motorists facing huge tailbacks.

Shoppers trying to reach the town centre are also now being caught in traffic, and are advised to find alternative transport .

All businesses within the area between Ainsworth Road and Crostons Road with access from Bolton Road will be unable to open and closures are expected to remain in place for at least 24 hours.

Firefighters were called to the blaze on Thursday night. It is thought the fire started in a pile of scrap wood.

Police and fire chiefs also feared that gas holders across the road from the timber yard could be threatened by the fire while businesses and homes within a 200-metre radius of the blaze were evacuated and ambulance crews put on stand-by.