INVESTIGATIONS were still continuing into the cause of a massive blaze which destroyed a tyre warehouse in Blackpool town centre on September 10.

Environmental health officers and fire investigators have been at the scene all week to find the cause of the blaze and assess the safety of the gutted building.

People living near to Quick Save Tyres on Gorton Street and visitors to the Mecca Bingo on Talbot Road were evacuated and roads were blocked off on Sunday evening as black toxic smoke from burning tyres billowed out of the building.

Twelve fire crews from Lancaster and Preston and the environmental protection unit from Burnley tackled the blaze, which could be seen as far away as Preston and Southport. Fire ripped through the roof and the back of the building and firemen used a thermal imaging camera to detect oxyacetylene and propane cylinders which were at risk of exploding. It is estimated the blaze caused around £300,000 worth of damage.

A man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. It is thought he was working on a car inside the garage at the time.

A neighbour said she saw somebody welding on a car inside the garage shortly before she heard the initial explosion.

Assistant divisional officer Barry Shelmerdine, who is investigating the cause of the fire, said it was too early to say how the fire started. He said their inquiries were expected to carry on for at least another week yet.

Owner of the business Andy Jackson said staff would now be working from his other business, the Blackpool Tyre Warehouse, just round the corner on Talbot Road which was unaffected by the fire. He said: "The damaged property will have to be rebuilt and that will take about six months."

Webster's Car Wash, situated at the back of the burned building, is now open again for business.