Street engulfed by blaze at warehouse

Eighteen families were left homeless after a fire at a warehouse engulfed their houses. Eight people were taken to hospital and more than 100 residents of Lightfoot Road, Chester, were evacuated as the blaze destroyed a Pickfords storage depot on the neighbouring Hoole Bridge industrial estate.

"The houses spontaneously combusted because of the intense heat," said a Cheshire Fire Service spokeswoman.