VIDEO: The blaze that forced scores of Pickering residents to evacuate their homes

Crews were called to Westbourne Grove - a cul-de-sac off Middleton Road - at 1.50pm yesterday (Monday May 25) to tackle the fire.

A commercial property - understood to be a mobile catering unit - was alight and the flames were reported to have spread to neighbouring garages and hedges.

Several homes were evacuated, with around 30 people who live there being moved to safety at the Memorial Hall. No one was injured.

Police and a community team from Ryedale District Council joined fire crews in managing the emergency.

Middleton Road was closed and members of the public were urged to avoid the area while emergency services were at the scene.

The A170 through Pickering was also described as "impassable" and drivers were told to find an alternative route.

At around 4.45pm, residents were told they could return to their homes.

Councillor Keane Duncan, Leader of Ryedale District Council, said: "This appears to have been a serious fire, and we’d like to thank the emergency services for everything they did to make the area safe.

“As it has been a busy bank holiday, we had a number of council officers on the ground, keeping an eye on some of Ryedale’s busiest areas.

"That meant we were able to get someone to the scene quickly to help support those who had been evacuated from their homes."

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