A 200-METRE exclusion zone was set up around a vehicle repair garage after police investigating a break-in found leaking gas cylinders which could have caused an explosion.

Laurence Cawley

A 200-METRE exclusion zone was set up around a vehicle repair garage after police investigating a break-in found leaking gas cylinders which could have caused an explosion.

Police were called to the scene of the drama at 8.15pm last night after two men were spotted breaking into the garage compound in Woodhall Business Park in Sudbury.

When officers arrived at Balgores' repair shop compound in Drury Drive, two men fled the scene in a dark green car. As they searched the area, police found two leaking gas canisters and called in Suffolk county fire service.

Fire fighters discovered the leaking cylinders contained the potentially explosive substance oxygen acetylene, which burns at 6,000 degrees Celsius and is used by the garage's workers for welding.

An exclusion zone stretching out 200m was set up around the site while the cylinders were made safe.

A fire service spokeswoman said: “We deal with these things properly and we were not going to take any chances.

“Oxygen acetylene is used for welding. We found it leaking. The incident was brought to a close at 9.27pm.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 8.15pm to reports of two men breaking into the compound of a garage.

“Officers attended and the men left the scene at speed in a metallic dark green car. The men were about 5ft 7in tall and were wearing black clothing and hooded tops.

“Two leaking gas canisters were found and the fire service attended to deal with these, a 200m exclusion zone was placed around the canisters and this was lifted when they were made safe at 9.30pm.

“A car within the compound had been damaged, as well as the gates,” the spokeswoman said.

Nobody from Balgores would comment on the incident.

Anybody with information about the two men should contact PC Kim Ramdhanie at Sudbury police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.