AN investigation has been launched into the cause of a fire at a house in Littleport on Bank Holiday Monday. The main road through the village was closed for several hours as fire crews tackled the blaze, which destroyed eight cars, a camper van and three

AN investigation has been launched into the cause of a fire at a house in Littleport on Bank Holiday Monday. The main road through the village was closed for several hours as fire crews tackled the blaze, which destroyed eight cars, a camper van and three temporary buildings.

Fire-fighters found vehicles and buildings well-alight when they arrived at the property on Wisbech Road just before 1pm.

They were forced to withdraw to fight the fire from a safe distance after a number of gas cylinders behind the house exploded.

Incident commander Harry Edge said: "It was a tricky fire to tackle because of the scale of the fire and the fact gas cylinders were involved.

"However we were able to cool the remaining cylinders and stop the fire spreading to the house."

The Littleport to Wisbech Road was closed for more than two hours, as crews from Littleport, Ely, Soham and Cambridge, battled the flames.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said an investigation would begin today (Tuesday).