MORE than 100 families were given permission to return to their homes today after spending the night in temporary accommodation because of the threat of a gas explosion.

Fire safety experts gave the all clear for the Station Road area of Harrietsham, near Maidstone, to re-open following a blaze at a car repair workshop.

Villagers were evacuated on Wednesday morning amid fears that acetylene gas cylinders inside the garage might explode because of the heat.

Homes and business within a 200m radius were evacuated and an emergency rest centre for evacuees was set up by Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council at Swadelands School in Lenham.

Nearby Harrietsham station was also closed as a precaution but trains were not diverted away form the area.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze, but two cars and a large number of spare parts were thought to have been destroyed. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.