BUSINESSES at Colchester's Cowdray Centre have been forced to close following a blaze at a car workshop.
Fears were raised acetylene tanks could explode following the fire, which meant a number of businesses at the Cowdray Avenue site had to be shut.
Two crews from Colchester Fire Station were called to a workshop, in Block E, at 9.05pm on Sunday.
It is thought the blaze was started following a mechanical fault with a vehicle in need of repair, which had been left outside the garage.
The fire was extinguished by 10.55pm and crews used a thermal imaging camera to check for remaining hotspots.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here