Crews called to fire at derelict theatre

The fire is being treated as a "suspected arson"

Emergency services were called to a fire in the basement of a derelict theatre in Derby.

Crews from the Kingsway and Nottingham Road stations were sent to the Hippodrome in Green Lane at 18:55 BST on Thursday.

A "small fire" was discovered in the cellar of the Grade II listed theatre, which dates back 1914 but was last used as a bingo hall before it shut in 2007.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) said the fire, which was extinguished using a single hose reel jet, was being treated as "suspected arson".

Crews took it "slow and steady" due to the nature of the property

No injuries were reported and nobody was found inside the property, DFRS added.

The fire service said crews spent longer than usual for a fire of this scale due to the condition of the site.

While currently disused, in February the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust said it hoped to compulsory purchase the site with ambitions to bring it back into use as a music venue.