HUNDREDS of people were stopped from getting to work today after an exclusion zone was set up on Weymouth's largest industrial estate.

The Granby Industrial Estate was sealed off after a fire broke out involving gas cylinders.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said crews discovered the cylinders at Universal Engineering contained acetylene, prompting fears of an explosion. A 200-metre cordon was set up, nearby premises were evacuated and roads were closed - causing chaos near the industrial estate as employees tried to get into work.

Two Dorset Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to a workshop at the Cumberland Drive premises shortly after 6am.

Firefighters found the blaze involved acetylene and oxygen cylinders and three further crews from Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester were alerted.

Nearby premises were evacuated and employees were turned away as they tried to get into work.

DEK production line worker Jane Barnes said: "We were meant to be in at 7.30am but we were told we couldn't get in.

"The police said Universal Engineering was on fire and that there were canisters going up everywhere.

"They said nobody was going in for the foreseeable future. It was just too dangerous with the canisters going off and off course it was right opposite the petrol station."

Her colleague Ross Moran said: "We came from Portland and saw a fire engine coming up through Wyke Regis.

"Then my brother sent me a text message saying that Universal Engineering was on fire."

Park Manufacturing worker Mike Smith said: "I wasn't quite sure what was going on.

"I was meant to be in at 7am but we were just told to go away. We were told they were evacuating the whole estate.

"We just had to wait to be told what was happening."

Cumberland Drive was closed and parts of Hampshire Road and Cobham Drive were also sealed off.

The closures caused traffic chaos on roads around the Granby Industrial Estate, including the B3157 Radipole Lane.

Dorset Police advised people to stay away from the area as firefighters fought to tackle the flames and cool the cylinders down.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Acetylene cylinders have to be cooled for some time otherwise they can explode."

The exclusion zone was later reduced to 100 metres - with Cumberland Drive remaining closed between its junctions with Albany Road and Cambridge Road.

The spokesman said two fire crews remained at the scene cooling the cylinders for some time after the blaze was out.