Thick black smoke could be seen for miles in a serious fire which saw more than 50 people escape to safety.

Firefighters from Walton, Esher, Chertsey, Painshill, Chobham and Epsom were all called to the blaze at Southwood Manor Farm, off Burhill Road, Hersham, on Good Friday.

Water carriers from Godstone and Camberley were also in attendance to help fight the fire inside an industrial building, which started just before 5pm.

Residents’ homes within a 250ft radius and temporary housing for workers was evacuated because of highly explosive gas cylinders containing acetylene and propane within a warehouse and barn on the site.

Firefighters removed the cylinders, preventing an explosion, and brought the fire under control by about 8.30pm, saving the rest of the buildings.

The fire was doubly hazardous because the steel frame building had asbestos cladding and roof, so extra precautions were needed.

One Walton firefighter said it was the biggest fire he had seen in at least six months.

He said: “It was really hot in there and you could see the smoke from some distance.

“It is the biggest job I’ve been on in the past six months. It only took us a couple of minutes to get there, but you could see the smoke almost straight away.

“I don’t know why it spread so fast, and we’re not sure what caused it yet, but an investigation is under way.”

Did you get pictures of the fire? Send them to lrobertson@london.newsquest.co.uk.