Elderly residents were carried to safety as gas cylinders came close to exploding in a shed fire.

Police and firefighters moved more than 50 residents from nearby flats and bungalows after the fire took hold, with flames shooting into the air.

A resident had spotted flames in the shed next to flats at Warren Court, off Sompting Road, Lancing, and alerted emergency services to what at first seemed a minor fire.

Firefighters arrived to find the shed burning fiercely and then saw the cylinders inside.

They feared the heat could turn the cylinders into lethal explosives.

Crews directed their jets to cool them while police helped the mainly elderly residents to safety.

The homes were cordoned off and the residents taken to Lancing Naval Old Comrades Club, where they were given tea and sandwiches.

Staff at Lancing Manor Leisure Centre were put on standby to take in more residents if needed.

Fire crews from Worthing and Lancing attended the scene while staff from Adur District Council also came to help.

Ray Jackson, assistant divisional officer at West Sussex Fire Brigade, said: "When fire crews arrived the flames were 6ft to 8ft in the air.

"They thought it was just a shed fire but when they went to investigate they discovered the cylinders inside.

"For the safety of everyone involved we decided to move about 50 people from their nearby homes.

"We don't yet know how the fire started - that is under investigation."

Firefighters spent two hours cooling the cylinders before using a thermal imaging camera to determine whether they were cold enough to be transfered to a water-filled bin.

Residents were allowed back to their homes more than four hours after the blaze was spotted.

Warren Court resident Joyce Grosvenor Cole, 78, said: "I was just cooking lunch when I heard the sirens.

"I thought they were very close and was amazed when they pulled into Warren Crescent.

"It wasn't until about an hour later that a policeman came and knocked on the door and said we had to evacuate."

Bella Pointing, 80, from Rose Croft Close, said: "I am just pleased nobody was hurt."