FAMILIES evacuated from their homes due to a suspected arson attack have spoken of their delight to be back.

Residents from around 200 houses in Colne had to leave their properties at 8pm after a fire at a block of garages containing cylinders of highly explosive gas on Tuesday night.

Everyone was finally allowed home at 5pm yesterday, although firefighters continued their work until after 8pm.

Doreen Cassidy, 42, of Cross Street West, said: "The first thing I wanted when I got back was a cup of tea and a bath.

"After we were first evacuated we all went to Pendle Leisure Centre where they made hot drinks then I decided to go to the Queens Pub on the main road for a quick drink.

"But I ended up staying there overnight as it's my local and I know the people there.

"I was glad to get back the next day though because I hadn't taken a change of clothes or a hairbrush."

Doreen's daughter Jodie-Leigh, 12, had stayed at a friend's house overnight so missed the evacuation.

The Lord Street Primary School pupil said: "I was a bit upset that I missed the excitement.

"I didn't find out until the next day and was worried about my mum but she would have phoned if anything was really wrong."

Their neighbours, Julie, 46, and William Basstone, 50, were also glad to be home.

William said: "We've lived here for about 20 years and weren't very happy about leaving it empty while we were evacuated.

"Luckily, our daughter Sharon lives nearby so we stayed with her. We are really glad to be home."

David Atherton, 56, of Peel Road, was one of a number of residents with nowhere else to stay in the area who spent the night in a hotel.

Yesterday, Pendle Leisure Centre and Primet Community Centre were both kept open to house and feed such residents.

David said: "I think the fire was probably sabotage but I think they are still looking into it.

"I spent the night in a hotel near Earby but was glad to get home.

"I went shopping on the way back and got a nice bottle of Italian wine to console myself that I didn't go up in flames."

Alison Hill, who lives in Bankfield Street with her 12-year-old daughter Louisa, said: "Where we live we had a ring side view of the fire but I didn't realise until I saw the blue flashing through the curtains. The fire people were brilliant, very organised and very professional."

Betty Winstanley, 70, of Cross Street West, stayed the night at the leisure centre and the following day at Primet Community Centre.

She said: "I can't praise the people who looked after us enough."

Gladys Bradshaw, 92, also of Cross Street West, added: "I slept right through the whole thing and the first I knew was the next morning when I saw the area was sealed off. We have been looked after wonderfully well."

Firefighters were today back at the scene investigating the cause of the fire.

Station officer Richard Taylor said he could not say if the fire was deliberate or not but If it was decided to be suspicious it would be passed to the police.

Ian McInery, Pendle Council's emergency planning manager, said: "This is a great example of not just the emergency services but the community coming together to help respond to a potentially serious incident. Voluntary groups and emergency services havemade the ordeal as bearable as possible."