AROUND 80 people were evacuated from a residential street in Moretonhampstead late on Tuesday night after fire took hold of a garage.Firemen set up a 100m cordon around a terraced property in Pound Street, due to the risk of a gas explosion. People within 200m were evacuated from their homes.The sports centre sheltered around 60 people, some in their bedclothes, and The Bell Inn pub looked after 20 people for two hours.Andrew Holcroft, who lives opposite Coach Barn, where the fire broke out, said he heard a fire alarm after 9pm. He said the occupants, who are new to the village, were in the street.

FULL STORY IN OUR ONLINE EDITION