Residents were finally allowed return to their homes after a major blaze brought chaos to the south of the city.

Around 46 people were evacuated from their homes yesterday morning after fire broke out at a tyre storage centre.

Emergency services were called to the fire in the Ibrox area shortly before 8am.

More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze.

And today Ibrox councillor John Flanagan called for laws to stop old tyres being kept near residential areas.

He said: “I am calling on the Scottish Parliament to introduce urgent tougher legislation to prevent storage of tyres adjacent to residential areas.

“Between 50-80 of my constituents’ lives were disrupted during this civic emergency and the smoke affected many other people as well.”

Eight fire crews and specialist support units went to Fairley Street and were faced with massive plumes of thick black smoke billowing across the south of the city.

The blaze caused travel disruption on the roads and Subway. Roads were closed and Ibrox underground station was closed as a precaution.

Commuters could see the smoke from the nearby M8 but also as far away as Clydebank on the other side of the river.

A temporary shelter was set up at Ibrox Library and Learning Centre for affected residents while other people were told to stay indoors.

“Children at nearby Ibrox Primary were kept indoors during break time.

Residents were later allowed to return to their homes after the all-clear was given about 4pm.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said the blaze spread to eight lock up garages where gas cylinders were discovered. Crews kept the cylinders cool by damping them in a bid to avert a blast.

A neighbouring block of flats was evacuated along with a two storey building in Ibrox Lane. Sparks had flown on the roof causing extensive damage to the property in Ibrox Lane and as a precautionary measure gallons of water was poured on to nearby flats to stop them catching alight.

An investigation are to has begun to find out how the blaze started and to find out whether or not it was deliberate.