Police shut roads due to fire near motorway

Roads in Luton have been closed because of a fire near the M1 motorway.

Bedfordshire Police said High Street in the Leagrave area had been affected, along with surrounding roads including Bridge End, Oakley Road, Mayne Avenue and Broxley Mead.

People living nearby reported hearing explosions close to a petrol station, where smoke could be seen.

Seven crews from Bedfordshire extinguished the fire which involved an outbuilding and a house, having been called to the scene at about 10:30 BST.

A spokesperson said the petrol station was unaffected by the fire.

They added that crews would remain at the scene "for some time" to carry out damping down operations and an investigation would take place to establish the cause of the fire.

Saman Butt, 34, witnessed the fire and said police evacuated her from her home shortly after she saw a property on fire close to the petrol station.

She said: "I heard a really loud sound, like an explosion. I thought it might have just been an accident.

"I looked outside the window... there was masses of black smoke... then another explosion followed by another explosion."

She added that Leagrave Primary, where her children go, put the school in lockdown .

The school posted on Facebook that "all of the children in school are safe and well".

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