Firefighters have warned firms not to leave skips near their buildings after two fires last night.

The roofs of two single-storey buildings owned by Galmer Engineering in Murdock Road, Bicester, were severely damaged after acetone left outside the building caught fire at 6.30pm.

No-one was hurt in the fire but firefighters were at the scene until midnight making the area safe. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire brigade divisional officer Ian Mills said: "There were about eight other skips near buildings in the yard which were fire hazards and posed a risk to the buildings."

Damage from a skip fire at CR Marks, in Curtis Yard, North Hinksey Lane, Botley, Oxford, at 7.43pm, was limited by fire crews. They put out the blaze before it could reach the building. Mr Mills said: "We would like to remind companies not to leave skips and materials near their buildings.

"Not only are they a fire risk in themselves but they often damage the building. They might lose their whole building, not just a skip."

Story date: Tuesday 06 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.