Businesses are being warned to notify firefighters of any dangerous substances they are storing, following two recent explosions and fires in the Abingdon area.

Oxfordshire Fire Service said firms had a responsibility to contact them if dangerous substances, or potentially dangerous equipment, such as gas or acetylene cylinders, were being kept.

Bob Burrell, station manager at Rewley Road fire station, in Oxford, said all firms were required to carry out a fire risk assessment under fire safety laws.

On January 30, 100 families were evacuated from their homes for almost 36 hours after a cylinder exploded at Sutton Courtenay Tyres.

A week earlier, a large explosion, which narrowly missed setting off 200 gas cylinders, destroyed much of the premises of Abingdon gas-to-liquids firm CompactGTL, in Blacklands Way, close to the Fairacres Retail Park.

Mr Burrell said: "A large number of premises may not be aware of their statutory requirements under Fire Safety Order legislation.

"If, as a consequence of not notifying us, people are placed at risk of death or injury, then that is an offence."

For more information, businesses can call the fire service on 0800 0325999 or see the Oxfordshire County Council website.