FIRE and police officers are investigating what caused a huge blaze at a Birmingham factory which contained deadly gas cylinders.

Up to 60 firefighters were called out to Quality Lighting Design, in Bridge Street West, Newtown, shortly before 6am yesterday.

Water was poured onto the roof from a hydraulic platform as firefighters attempted to keep the acetylene cylinders cool.

They suspected there was a bank of three cylinders in a part of the building which had already partially collapsed.

West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Bill Gough said: “The hazard with acetylene is once heated it continues to generate heat internally so we have to treat them with the greatest respect because they can fail with explosive results.