INGLETON residents evacuated by a major fire in the village on Friday night were united by a "1940's community spirit".

Homes were evacuated and the A65 was closed for a period as police and firefighters dealt with the fire at Blue Line Auto Logistics Ltd on Ingleton Industrial Estate, New Road.

The fire started at the MOT Test Centre started at around 6.40pm and firefighters remained at the scene until 2.30am Saturday.

North Yorkshire Police said: "The large fire at Ingleton Industrial Estate on Friday evening was brought under control following an emergency multi-agency response.

"The incident happened at a MOT test centre at around 6.40pm yesterday. Due to hazardous materials including gas bottles on the site, a decision was made to evacuate dozens of properties within a 200m safety cordon.

"Thankfully, nobody was injured and the people who were taken to the local community centre where they were supported by the county council, were allowed to return to their homes at around 11.30pm once the fire was under control. The A65 also re-opened at the same time."

Ingleton parish clerk Alison Hack helped out at Ingleton Community Centre when 30 to 35 residents living within 200 metres of the fire were evacuated to the community facility.

"All of the evacuated residents seemed resigned to the situation," she said. "They weren't frightened or panicking. It was very orderly.

"We had a community emergency plan in place and we had a run through that," said Miss Hack. "We had a list of contact numbers to provide supplies and bedding or accommodation, but fortunately people were allowed to return to their homes at 11.30pm."

Ingleton parish councillor John Ward and his wife, who live at Malt Dubs Close, were amongst ten homeowners on their street who had to be evacuated.

Cllr Ward said: "We were out for dinner in Settle that night. When we tried to return home on the A65, it was blocked so we took Clapham Old Road back into the village.

"We couldn't get home and we stayed at my sister-in-law's house in the village, but I went to the community centre.

"People were being well looked after and there was a lot of camaraderie amongst everyone," he said. "It was like a 1940's community spirit when people had to go to shelters during the war."

Fire crews returned to the scene on Saturday to investigate, but according to early reports the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Cllr Ward said that the owner of the MOT test centre, Andrew Robinson, came to the community centre on Friday to apologise to residents.

"I thought it was nice for him to say that to everyone, even though it wasn't his fault," said Cllr Ward.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service says it had five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform at the scene.

A spokesman for the fire service said the fire was within a goods vehicle service logistics building of approximately 30 by 20 metres which was extensively damaged by fire.

The building also contained various vehicles, gas cylinders and equipment.

Reports suggest some of the cylinders may have exploded during the incident.

"You could hear the gas bottles blowing up," said Cllr Ward. "When they go off, they are like torpedoes."

In addition to properties within a 200m safety cordon in the south of the village, a nearby stretch of the A65 was closed in both directions while fire crews dealt with the blaze and determined if there are any hazardous chemicals on the site.

Residents outside of the evacuation zone were urged to keep safe by staying indoors and keeping windows and doors closed.