A FAMILY barbecue sparked the evacuation of a street after flames got out of control.

Sixty people had to be evacuated from their homes in Redcar, east Cleveland, after a gas cylinder attached to a barbecue caught fire and threatened to explode.

Residents in 20 houses in Kendal Grove and Ambleside Avenue were evacuated over fears for residents’ safety.

Police set up a 200-metre cordon while fire crews extinguished the blaze.

The incident started at 7pm on Tuesday after Graeme Osborne, 33, of Kendal Grove, sat down with his family to enjoy a barbecue in his back garden.

Moments later, the gas cylinder caught fire.

Mr Osborne was with his daughter, Kiarne, seven, who had her neighbour and friend, Lilie-Mae Reid, round. His mother, Janette, 51, and her partner, Mick, were also there.

Mr Osborne said: “Mick lit the barbecue and food or something dripped on to the gas and it started hissing and blowing.

“Mick did blow the flame out, but it re-ignited twice as big. We got a wet towel and tried to put it out, but it was already up the wall.”

He added: “The kids weren’t bothered – they were playing on the grass. But I realised it was serious. I knew it could explode at any time.”

He called the fire brigade, who battled the 10ft flames.

Crew manager Steve Suggitt said: “It was raging. The family were perfect in what they did – they got out, went to the front garden and called us.”

He said the 11kg propane cylinder could have exploded, with deadly consequences, adding: “They can travel hundreds of yards when they do go off. If you are in the path of it, it could quite easily kill.”

He said it was not yet known whether the fire was started because of a fault with the cylinder or with the barbecue.

Lakes Primary School pupil Lilie-Mae said: “At first we all had to run inside, but then we had to go to the back of the pub at the end of the road.

“Some people were in their pyjamas and one lady had a towel on because she’d just got out off the bath.”

Residents were able to return home by 8.15pm.