A LOUD bang at the scene of a Harrow car garage fire is unexplained but could have been a tyre bursting or a cylinder exploding, the manager says.

The offices at Parrs Garage, in Hindes Road, survived unscathed as flames tore through the workshop at the back of the site at around 12.15pm yesterday.

The fire sent smoke pouring into the skies over Harrow and 600 pupils were evacuated from Norbury School and Quainton Hall, along with 100 residents from nearby homes.

The manager of the garage, who asked not to be named, said yesterday: “It was just the back workshop, staff were working on a car servicing it, and apparently there was a bit of a fire and it just spread quickly.

“There was a bang but we don't know what it was, the fire brigade can't tell what it was. It could have been a tyre exploding, it could have been a gas cylinder.

“The workshop is damaged. We've got the assessor coming in the morning.”

Norbury pupils were evacuated to Vue Cinema, in St George's Shopping Centre, while Quainton Hall pupils took refuge in Roxborough Park.

Police set up a 200m safe zone around the fire as around 30 firefighters, using six fire engines, first battled the flames and then cooled gas cylinders which it was feared might explode.

Susan Gari, 52, who lives near the garage, said: “I heard the bang. I knew it was bad because at around 12.30pm there was this really loud explosion and it scared the life out of me.

“I just ran to the front window and I saw the fire brigade. Next thing I was being asked to leave my flat and go as far away as possible.

“I went to my work, at Gala Bingo and just stayed there until it was safe to come back.”

Police and Harrow Council reported no casualties.