FLAMES leapt 20ft into the air as firefighters battled to control a blaze as it tore through a Worcester city centre launderette.

People living near P&R Cleaners were evacuated last night as more than 20 firefighters fought to stop the blaze spreading to three 47kg propane gas cylinders nearby.

Police closed part of London Road, near the Commandery Road junction, before the fire was finally extinguished at 1am today.

The cause was not yet known, but arson had been ruled out.

"I heard a scream from next door and stood up to look out of the skylight," said Craig Tuffley, whose Bath Road home overlooks the firm.

"You could see flames coming out of the launderette skylight and smoke blowing across the back gardens."

The 26-year-old and his four housemates were asked to leave the house for safety while the fire was tackled.

Another resident, whose flat is opposite the business, thought her home was ablaze when firefighters alerted her.

"I was absolutely terrified," said the 22-year-old, who would not give her name.

"I thought it was my place on fire. I looked out of the window and saw the fire engines on the street and then saw all the smoke."

Two crews from the city's Green Watch joined a part-time crew and another from Droitwich at the scene.

Six breathing apparatus and three hosereel jets were used in the fight to put out the fire.

Sub Officer Phil Major, of Green Watch, described the launderette blaze as being "spectacular."

"Our considerations were for the three propane cylinders above the premises, the flames were licking up that high," he said.

"We asked residents living nearby to leave their homes, to evacuate them from the risk area and put a crew up above the launderette to protect properties.

"We sent a crew back there this morning to carry out further investigations but, as regards arson, the origin is not suspicious."

The owners of the launderette were not prepared to comment on the fire today as the Evening News went to press.