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Town centre fire started at demolition site

Alex Popein Northampton
Maddie Myers A fire engine parked outside a shopping centre and behind a cordon of red and white "Do not cross" tape. Bystanders are behind the cordon watching on.Maddie Myers

A fire in Northampton town centre started on a site where former BHS and M&S stores are being demolished.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to Union Street near an entrance to the Grosvenor Centre at about 17:45 BST on Thursday.

Roads in the area were closed during the evening but the shopping centre reopened at 10:00 BST on Friday, an hour later than normal.

A spokesperson for the Grosvenor Centre said the fire "occurred near our Abington Street entrance, which originated from a neighbouring demolition site rather than on our property".

Capital&Centric An aerial shot from directly above the site shows buildings fully demolished with some debris and mounds of dirt. There are also construction vehicles.Capital&Centric
Drone footage of the demolition site, with the entrance on the Grosvenor Centre to the the left and at the top

The fire service said four Northamptonshire crews and two from Buckinghamshire were at the scene at the height of the blaze.

The shopping centre spokesperson said it "produced a significant amount of smoke, which activated our smoke detection systems".

Supplied Four fire engines parked in the middle of a town centre between trees and shops.Supplied

As a precaution, the centre was evacuated shortly before it was due to close on Thursday.

"We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response, as well as our retailers and customers for their patience and co-operation," they said.

Alex Pope/BBC Four people walking towards the entrance of a shopping centre, which has large glass doors with a grey frame. There is block paving in front of the entrance. All four people have their backs to the camera.Alex Pope/BBC
Grosvenor Centre reopened on Friday an hour later than normal

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