Several homes in Alloa were evacuated last night after a fire involving gas cylinders.

The fire broke out in a garage in Churchill Street at about 7.25pm.

Firefighters found the garage ablaze and also discovered three liquid petroleum gas cylinders, another containing oxygen and one acetylene cylinder.

A cordon was then set up and nearby homes were evacuated.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "The location of the incident in the rear garden surrounded by domestic premises and the extreme inclement weather conditions created considerable difficulties to the fire crews to extinguish the fire."

Residents were allowed to return to their properties shortly before 11.30pm.