Fifty buses in blaze at Coatbridge storage depot Published duration 10 May 2011

Fifty buses have been all but destroyed in a huge blaze at a storage depot in North Lanarkshire.

The commercial buses were in the building at the Greenhill Industrial Estate in Coatbridge when firefighters arrived at the scene at about 0200 BST.

The homes of about 100 nearby residents were evacuated.

The families spent the night at the local Greenhill Primary School but they have now been allowed back into their houses.

It was feared the fire might spread to the adjacent Coatbridge College building.

There were also concerns about acetylene cylinders in the building.

Fire appliances from five local stations attended the blaze and crews were expected to remain at the scene for most of the day

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue area commander George McGrandales said: "Fire-fighters used three main water jets and two ground monitors to extinguish the fire which at its height involved 50 buses and was also impinging on the gable end of the college building.

"Further investigation of the college building revealed some damage to the cladding on the gable end however the immediate actions of the attending crews ultimately protected this community resource."