RESIDENTS have spoken of seeing flames, thick black smoke and a fireball after a blaze at a timber yard in Penge this morning.

Lynsey Smith, 25, lives near the site in Maple Road where gas canisters have exploded and 50 firefighters were called.

The road is closed from the junction of Heath Road to the High Street and St John's School in Maple Road is closed.

Miss Smith, who lives in High Street, said: "I got woken up by a loud bang and when we looked out of the kitchen window the flames were almost at our window."

She said it was quite frightening: "seeing the flames and feeling the heat come through the window when the window was not even open."

She and fiancé, Kevin Swindlehurst, 27, grabbed their cat and ran out of the house to see police and fire crews arriving.

They, and other residents, were told to leave their homes.

Miss Smith said they went to a café and have still not returned home.

The couple's valentine's gifts are still unopened.

Shipping clerk Bob Taylor, 47, of Maple Road, said: "I heard a few loud bangs and looking out of the curtains I saw a big fireball.

"I saw the flames going across. I was just amazed really, I've never seen anything like that before except on TV."

Salesman Sulagna Bosa, 23, of Maple Road, "We could see the smoke. It was like thick smoke.

She added: "In the beginning it was fine and we could see the area but then thick black smoke covered the area."

Daphne Fenton, 70, heard the explosions from her home in Watermen's Square.

The cashier said: "The first one was about eight o'clock and there was another a bit later.

"It was quite a blaze and there was a lot of smoke.

"Looking at the fire from the back garden the flames were about 10ft higher than the buildings.

"It was quite a surprise."

The Fire Brigade say the road is likely to remain closed until at least 10pm.

A rest centre has been set up for the residents who had to leave their homes.