Families were yesterday returning to their homes 24 hours after being evacuated over fears a gas cylinder would explode in a factory fire.

The blaze, which broke out at the height of Saturday's torrential downpour, gutted Richens Care in Windmill Road, Headington, as firefighters battled to stop the 6ft-high acetylene cylinder inside exploding in the heat.

Fifty people in Windmill Road and Kennett Road were evacuated to Wood Farm Community Centre. Some were later allowed home, but others spent Saturday night with relatives or friends.

Firefighters kept dousing the cylinder which they said would go off like a bomb if it exploded overnight and yesterday morning, finally submerging it in a wheelie bin filled with water.

The exclusion zone around the factory was lifted at 3.20pm yesterday and families allowed back home. More than 60 firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service risk reduction manager Peter Cleary said: "The cylinder could have exploded without warning and had devastating effects taking down buildings or endangering life. We had to evacuate homes so there was no risk from flying debris."

Investigators are now trying to discover the cause of the blaze.

County emergency planning officer John Kelly said: "Many people were allowed back under supervision to collect possessions and then were told to come to Wood Farm Community Centre.

"We gave help and advice but no-one needed to stay here, all found rooms with family, friends and relatives. There was no panic and everything went smoothly."

Two couples who got back into their homes on Saturday were Kennett Road neighbours Pam and William Evans and George and Beth Levvy.

Mrs Evans said: "We thought it was someone who had started a bonfire. But when the fire officer came round and said we had to evacuate, William was full of disbelief. We were both a bit stunned.

"The urgency was stressed so we gathered up our dog Martha and got into the car and went to my mother-in-law's.

"We thought we would have to spend the night away from home but late in the evening officers allowed us back in."

Mark Clare, caretaker at the community centre, said: "The people were perfectly calm, there was no anger and no recriminations. People just got on with things."