Dozens of households were forced to evacuate their homes after a fire broke out at an industrial unit in Weymouth.

A major incident was declared by emergency services after fire crews were called on Sunday morning to tackle the blaze, which is believed to have broken out at a car garage workshop.

The fire took hold when acetylene gas cylinders caught alight, according to Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service, which said properties within a 100-metre radius of the blaze had been evacuated. No injuries were reported.

More than 40 firefighters were needed to get the blaze under control while all roads that had been closed were open again by 11am. Approximately 100 residents had to leave their homes after the fire broke out shortly before 5am near Holly Road, Cromwell Road and Highland Road

About 75 residents were taken in by The Rock, a local sports bar, which opened up especially to provide food, drink and shelter throughout the morning.

Shaun Parker, 20, one of the managers, said: “We are a community-run pub, so we are always looking to do things to help each other out. There were people of all ages, the youngest was one and the oldest in their 80s, and at first I think people were a bit unsteady with what was going on.”

But we got the teas and coffees out, knocked up some bacon sandwiches, stuck the telly on and let people just try and relax for a bit and feel at home until they could go back.” He said the final evacuees were allowed back home shortly after 10am.

Dorset and Wiltshire fire service said in a statement that crews from Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester and Maiden Newton were involved in fighting the fire.