Street evacuated in blaze drama

HOMES were evacuated in Hollins sparking fears a 40-tonne lorry would explode.

Around 16 residents of Swallow Street were ordered to leave their properties by emergency services at 4am yesterday.

Firefighters discovered a articulated vehicle on fire parked overnight on near-by Millgate, by a Bulgarian driver.

Around 30 emergency calls were made in relation to the incident — many over loud bangs being heard near by — which were believed to have been caused by blown-out tyres from the lorry.

Andy Guilfoyle, Hollins watch commander, said an aerial appliance was originally called over worries close by Heron’s Mill was alight.

He said: “Precautionary measures were put in place and police evacuated the residents on the adjacent street because we were unsure to what was inside the vehicle, as the lorry driver did not speak English.

“We had determined the load was non-hazardous after an interpreter spoke to the driver on the phone.”

The cause of the fire is believed to have resulted from the lorry’s international overnight heating system.

No-one was injured and residents were soon allowed back in their properties.

The blaze took local fire crews about 90 minutes to extinguish.