Crews battle 'large-scale' fire in town centre

Firefighters have shut a number of roads in Northampton town centre as they battle a "large-scale" fire at a disused bar.

A 500m (1,640ft) cordon has been put in place while crews work to extinguish the flames at the former Fat Cat premises in Bridge Street.

Road users have been warned to avoid the area while Angel Street, Derngate and Victoria Promenade are also closed.

Northamptonshire's deputy chief fire officer, Simon Tuhill, said crews were making "really good progress" after being called out at about 05:30 BST.

There has been no access via St Peter's Way, Gold Street, Abington Street or The Drapery while the cordon is in place.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to Bridge Street at about 05:30 BST

The fire service said it was working with West Northamptonshire Council to reopen access to the local authority's offices in Angel Street.

"We are comfortable now that the fire won’t be spreading any further but for us it’s about making sure we damp down those remaining hot spots," Mr Tuhill told BBC Radio Northampton.

He added that a joint investigation with the police would be undertaken once the incident was over.

Northamptonshire Police advised residents and businesses to keep their windows and doors shut due to a "large plume of smoke".