A HARROW mum has told of the heart-stopping moment she thought her children's school was on fire.

Heya Sivamalayanathan, 38, of Hindes Road, heard a bang and saw plumes of smoke pouring into the skies over Harrow in the direction of Norbury School, where her two children learn.

Six fire engines and around 30 firefighters were tackling a blaze as it raged through Parrs Garage, in Hindes Road, at around 12.15pm today.

She said: “I heard a bang and I came out of the house. I saw the smoke and I was scared.

“I thought it was the school but I went tthere and the police said it's not the school it's the back of the car garage. After that I could breath again.”

She was reunited with eight-year-old Maath and five-year-old Nivachi after police directed her to Vue Cinema at St George's Shopping Centre, where Norbury pupils gathered after their evacuation earlier today.

A total of 600 children were evacuated, including from nearby Quainton Hall, along with 100 residents from nearby streets due to fears gas cylinders on the site might explode.

Police have set up a cordon at a 200 metre radius around the site and many residents are still unable to return home, although some have been allowed to cross the police tape.

The fire has been out for some time but firefighters are still cooling the gas cylinders.