Western Road shopfront fire

Staff of Bristows Restaurant called the fire brigade after noticing smoke coming from behind the shop's sign at around 1.40pm.

Flames appeared when firemen pried off the frontage to reveal a charred hole in the backing board from which electrical cables fell.

An axe and jigsaw were used to remove the backing board. The flames were quickly doused, and the road was open again by 3pm.

Staff erected a temporary sign later that day.

The officer in charge was crew commander Graham Hobdon.