A fire has broke out at a construction site in Bath, where a £360 million shopping centre is being developed.

Up to 250 people were forced to flee their homes after four gas canisters blew up at the £360m SouthGate retail development site on Tuesday.

People living in the nearby nine streets were subsequently moved to safer areas after a 150-metre exclusion zone was set up, after flames shot 50ft into the air.

It is thought residents are now being allowed to return to their homes.

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The incident occurred when a tar heater, which was being used at the site, caught fire.

A Multi Development UK Ltd spokesman said the "incident" occurred on site "whereby a fire was started during asphalting operations in Block B".

A further 10 canisters were left in a "potentially dangerous" state, police confirmed.

Police were alerted to the fire just after 5pm on Tuesday evening.

A 400-yard cordon was placed around the shopping centre by emergency services, forcing train and bus stations to close and bringing rush hour traffic to a standstill.

Bath and North East Somerset Council also set up emergency accommodation for those evacuated.

A topping-out ceremony for the multi-million pound development scheme, took place last week. It was hoped the first retail units would be open at the start of next year.

(JM)