A fire tore through a vehicle workshop in Tottenham yesterday which lead to more than 40 people being evacuated from their homes.

Fire fighters were called to the scene in White Hart Lane just after 4.15pm, with police closing the road in both directions.

People were evacuated from their homes in nearby Pretoria Road which backs onto the workshop.

Tony Brennan, who was in the Haringey Irish Centre when the fire started said: “I was in the office of the centre and I heard some cracking noise from outside, but I just thought it was a car back firing.

“Then I looked out of the window saw the flames. The fire was so intense and I was worried the centre would catch fire.

“The Fire Brigade and the police arrived really quickly and said we had to leave the building.”

Another neighbour, whose house backed onto the workshop and did not wish to be named said: “I heard an explosion, then I looked out the window and saw the flames and I was in total shock.

“Then I saw my garden shed had caught fire and I panicked because I thought the whole house was going to catch fire.”

Witnesses reported one gas canister in the workshop exploded which lead to the evacuation as fire fighters got the blaze under control.

After the fire was out the road remained cordoned off as a precaution as crews made sure gas canisters were safe. Police have said no one was injured.