RESIDENTS forced to flee after fears of a huge explosion at a garage were finally allowed to return home more than 24 hours later.

The drama unfolded after a blaze at a garage in Delamore Street, Kirkdale, on Wednesday afternoon.

Local people were forced to evacuate their homes as a precaution amid fears of an explosion caused by a number of potentially lethal acetylene cannisters stored at the scene of the fire.

Of the 400 or so people who were evacuated, a total of 88 were put up overnight at Everton Park Sports Centre.

The 250m cordon which was initially set up around the scene was reduced to 50m yesterday morning, and lifted completely shortly before 5pm.

They were only allowed back after the area was declared safe by Merseyside Fire Service.

A number of acetylene and oxygen cylinders have now been removed.

A joint investigation into the cause of the blaze by police and Merseyside fire service is due to get under way today.

A number of residents who returned to their properties last night complained that they had been given no information about when, for example, their electricity would be restored.

Father-of-two James Harrison, who lives close to the scene of the fire at Delamore Street, said: “There is nobody here to give us any advice about anything.

“The property next door to the fire suffered fire damage and had its windows smashed, and there was one guy in a wheelchair who was left in his house all night.

“We are still without electricity now.”

At the height of the blaze, homes were emptied on Stuart Road, Hale Road, Chirkdale Street, County Road, Carisbrooke Road, Goodall Street, Westminster Road, Brewster Street, Leighton Street and Roxburgh Street.

Witnesses described the garage at the centre of the blaze erupting in 20ft high flames.

A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service last night said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire.