Firefighters are still at the scene of the major cash and carry blaze in Banbury this morning.

Dramatic pictures of the blaze that ripped through Oak Cash and Carry emerged yesterday.

Firefighters were called to the business in Beaumont Road, at about 8.30pm on Friday, and have now started to investigate the cause of the blaze.

Oxford Mail:

  • A thermal imaging camera provided by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue service

Flames spread from the cash and carry to next door business Gem Tool Hire & Sales Ltd, which houses a large number of gas cylinders.

Animals were evacuated from the nearby Pets at Home store, which got filled with smoke but they have now been allowed to return.

Police installed a 200-metre cordon around the incident.

This has now been reduced to 25 metres, but still includes Beaumont Road.

Oxford Mail:

  • An image from reader Jamie Davis

About 15 Oxfordshire fire crews, along with colleagues from Warwickshire and Northamptonshire fire services, were tackling the blaze by 10.30pm.

Oxford Mail:

Another image from Jamie Davis

Yesterday station manager Chris Wilson said: "Crews have been working throughout the day and into the evening to try to extinguish the remaining fires, which were previously difficult to reach due to the risk of acetylene cylinders and collapsing structure.

"Crews have been dismantling the external walls and applying water in massive quantities to quell what remains of the smouldering mass inside the two properties."

Oxfordshire Fire Service added that the whole site was still hazardous, due to potential collapse.