FIREFIGHTERS battled a large garage fire last night (Monday) which took three hours to come under control.

The blaze destroyed the garage and damaged a nearby shed and house in Elizabeth Way, Stoke Poges, Royal Berkshire Fire Service said.

It is believed to have been an electrical fire but due to the damage inside the garage, this could not be confirmed.

Two fire engines rushed to the scene at around 5.30pm but when the blaze proved challenging another engine was called. Two hosereels and breathing apparatus were used by the crews to put out the fire by 8.30pm and they returned at 10pm for further checks.

Residents in the house managed to escape before the fire service arrived, a spokesperson said, and no one was injured.

The heat of the fire damaged the frontage of the house, including causing some of the windows to cave in, The Observer was told.