Residents unable to return home after flat blaze

The fire rescue said the blaze had spread up the outside of the timber-clad building

At least 12 people cannot return to their homes after a block of flats was damaged by a fire which took nearly seven hours to contain.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) was called to a blaze close to Brewery Square shopping area in Copper Street, Dorchester, just before 18:45 BST on Friday.

The service said the fire spread up the outside of the building and ignited some of the timber-cladding, which is covered in copper sheeting.

DWFRS manager Stuart Gillion said there were no concerns about the cladding and an investigation was still in the early stages.

Mr Gillion said 12 residents had been relocated from the 16 flats in the block.

Crews were called to Copper Street in Dorchester, Dorset, on Friday evening

He said the building was "not habitable at the moment", and the brigade wanted to "make sure when people return to their properties they're appropriately protected".

The fire service said its response was scaled back at 23:00 and the incident was handed over to the building manager at about 01:30 on Saturday.

Brewery Square said there were no reported injuries

Among the first on the scene was Helen Moody of Vinyl Van and C Side who said she heard shouting.

"As I got closer to the flats I could see big flames billowing off one of the balconies," she said.

"Somebody made it clear they had phoned the fire brigade and someone was shouting up to the flats to try and get people's attention.

"We were trying to call all the flats to let them know there was a problem and a person there hit the fire alarm.

"We saw people coming out of the flats in their pyjamas."

In a Facebook post, Brewery Square said staff were "deeply saddened" by the fire in the Ammonite building.

"We can confirm that all residents are accounted for with no injuries," the post read.

It said staff were working with those affected to ensure they were supported, including helping residents who needed temporary accommodation.

DWFRS manager Stuart Gillion said 12 residents had been relocated from the 16 flats and the number "will increase" as people who had not been there at the time of the fire return home