HUNDREDS of people in Liskeard were evacuated from their homes on Monday night as a blaze tore through a commercial garage in what police described as a "major incident".

More than 40 firefighters and 30 police officers were sent to the large industrial blaze at a repair workshop on Russell Street just before 9pm.

A major evacuation process began shortly after as authorities were concerned hazardous materials were inside the building.

A 200-metre cordon was set up and more than 150 people had to be evacuated from properties in Victoria Terrace, Brisbane Terrace, Pavlova Close, Pavlova Court and parts of Melbourne Road.

Three short-term emergency evacuation centres were set up at the Royal British Legion, the Stag Inn and the Liskerrett Centre and at 10.30pm, residents were transferred to Lux Park Leisure Centre.

Although the fire was virtually out by 10pm, there were still concerns of the risk of gas cylinders exploding.

The cordon was lifted at 2am on Tuesday morning allowing residents to return to their homes.

Barn Street, which leads from the town centre towards the railway station, was closed to traffic. Residents just outside the 200-metre zone were advised to stay indoors.

Devon and Cornwall Police and the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said it was a "major incident" involving potentially hazardous material.

Superintendent Tamasine Matthews, the Silver Commander, in overall charge of the incident said: "Clearly there were significant risks with a fire of this type given the nature of the premises and its location. We worked alongside the fire service to manage the incident and our primary concern was to protect local people and get them to a safe location as quickly as possible."

Appliances from Liskeard, Callington, Looe, Lostwithiel and Saltash together with specialist vehicles from St Austell and Truro and the aerial ladder platform from Newquay attended the blaze.

The fire involved a two storey building measuring approximately 40 metres by 20 metres.

Police and fire investigators were due to examine the scene yesterday to help identify the cause of the fire. At the time of going to press the cause of the fire was still unknown.

Anyone with information should contact police on 08452 777444 quoting log 920 of March 1, 2010.