Arson probe after car hits shop before fire

A vehicle had to be removed from the front of the store

A major fire that broke out in a Birmingham shop is being treated as arson after a vehicle is believed to have hit the building before being set alight, police have said.

The blaze, which started at the store on Stratford Road, in the Sparkhill area, shortly before 04:55 GMT, then spread to flats above.

Residents were forced to leave their homes. Although five people were checked over by paramedics, there were no injuries reported.

Local businessman Isaac Zintaan said people who lived nearby told him they heard a loud explosion "like a bomb went off".

The 28-year-old, said: "[When I arrived] everyone was coughing due to the intensity of the smoke."

He said it appeared a car had rammed a supermarket on the ground flood of the building and footage showed a Land Rover on fire with its rear to the property, as if it had reversed into it.

A 4x4 was pictured being extracted from the shop by a fire truck and the vehicle appeared charred and warped by the blaze.

Abdul Khan urged people to plan their journeys after the blaze started in the early hours

An arson investigation is under way by police and fire investigators.

At its height, 55 firefighters were at the scene. The fire has since been brought under control, although crews remain at the scene.

The A34 Stratford Road - a main route into Birmingham centre - was closed in both directions during morning rush hour between Formans Road and Nansen Road.

Buses operated by National Express West Midlands were diverted.

On the Sparkhill Neighbourhood page on Facebook, administrator Abdul Khan urged people to plan their journeys.

Residents in flats above the shop in Sparkhill had to leave their homes

The fire closed a main route into Birmingham during the morning rush hour