Blockbuster video rental store was damaged by smoke and heat, after a fire, believed to have been caused by a fridge, broke out at about 11.45pm.

The neighbouring Wimpey fast food outlet and three flats around the shop, which were heavily smoke logged, were cleared until about 3am this morning.

Emergency services were alerted to the scene by a member of the public, who had smelt smoke.

Niall Cooper, station commander at Littlehampton Fire Station, said: "When we arrived we saw that the windows were black and very hot, so we had to gain entry and find the fire."

He added that while the shop had been damaged by heat and smoke, fire damage had been limited "by the good work of the crews".

"Conditions in there were pretty unforgiving, it was a case of only
being able to see your hand in front of your face. The crews used thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire, and extinguish it quickly."

Crews from East Preston and Arundel were also at the scene.

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