Video news: Counting cost of estate blaze

Owners were allowed back into the Darent industrial estate off Ray Lamb Way, Slade Green, on Sunday, for the first time since a huge blaze broke out last Thursday afternoon.

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See video of the blaze -

The remaining three fire crews finally left the 15-acre estate, which lies between the River Thames and Crayford Marshes, just before midnight on Sunday.

One businessman described the scene of the fire in Maypole Crescent as "horrific".

He said several businesses, including M&S Breakers, where the fire is believed to have started, were completely destroyed in the blaze.

And it is believed the yards of three adjacent companies were destroyed - a packaging company, a chemical yard and one belonging to Erith Haulage, where the offices, workshop and several lorries were lost.

A tyre business next to the scrapyard, where £100,000 of tyres were being stored, was lucky to escape any damage.

Up to 70 businesses were evacuated, including businesses in Ness Road and Landau Way.

At its height 75 firefighters were battling the blaze which could be seen from Essex.

A number of propane gas cylinders exploded and a 200m exclusion zone was put in place after two acetylene cylinders were discovered and in danger of exploding.

Firefighters were pumping water from hydrants on the estate and from Manor Road, Erith, to try and quench the flames.

People in the Slade Green area were left with just a trickle of water as water pressure in the area dropped.

Even the businesses not damaged by the fire have lost thousands of pounds because of the enforced closure.

One specialist lift company estimates it lost £10,000 for each day its premises remained off limits.

Companies were forced to park lorries in streets and car parks all over Erith after police shut the approach roads to the estate.

Estate manager Mick Kelly, 64, who was allowed back on the site on Friday by the emergency services, said he had been inundated with calls from frantic owners trying to find out if their businesses had survived the blaze.

He has also stepped up security on the site as thieves homed in on the estate hoping to cash in on the incident.

Among those evacuated from the site was its guard dog, which has never left the industrial estate before.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

• If you have any photographs of the fire or witnessed the blaze, click here or call the newsdesk on 01689 885703.

Safety campaign

London Fire Brigade is calling for improved government controls over acetylene gas cylinders after the car scrapyard fire in Slade Green caused major disruption to local businesses.

One acetylene cylinder was confirmed at the incident and a 200 metre exclusion zone was set up.

"We want to raise awareness of the dangers of using acetylene gas cylinders and are calling on the government for improved controls over their use," said Val Shawcross, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

"A fire involving acetylene cylinders causes major disruption in the capital on average once a month.

"If a gas cylinder explodes following a fire the resulting dangers can include a travelling fireball, flying glass and structural damage to nearby buildings."

Mayor Ken Livingstone is backing the authority's campaign and is giving his full support for changes to legislation governing the use of acetylene cylinders.

To find out more about the cylinders campaign click here