Firefighters battled overnight to put put a fire that caused two homes to be evacuated last night in Ellesmere Port.

Two fire engines were initially sent to the 30m x 20m outbuilding at the back of Chester Road in Whitby at 10.38pm last night (April 15), but four more had to be called after the blaze was found to be spreading to nearby gardens.

Crews used main jets to surround the flames and attack it from outside due to the unsafe structure. Two homes on Queens Avenue had to be evacuated while the fire was being extinguished, and one fire engine is still on the scene damping down and checking for hotspots.

A joint fire investigation is underway with Cheshire police.