A 33-year-old man woke to see flames spreading through his bedroom ceiling after a blaze broke out at a shop next door.

Five people had to be evacuated from their homes as the fire ripped through the Horne Street off-licence in the early hours of Sunday morning, March 29.

The roofs of two adjoining houses, were destroyed when the flames spread from the shop currently being refurbishment. Three other properties became heavily smoke-logged.

Fire chiefs say the shop blaze started on the first floor with flames quickly penetrating through the roof. The fire subsequently engulfed the roofs of two adjoining houses, one of which was unoccupied.

Mr Keith Bailey living in the house directly next door to the shop, and who had bought the property at Christmas, has had to be temporarily rehoused. The damage has left his home structurally unsafe.

He said he woke to see flames spreading through his bedroom ceiling.

"It was only when I looked outside I saw the off-licence was on fire.

"The house is a mess and will be months before I can move in properly."

Slates had to taken off his roof to disperse the build up of smoke.

He added: "The beams have been so weak because of the fire, the whole ceiling could collapse.

Firemen deployed specialist equipment to speedily disperse smoke from the shop and nearby homes. The remainder of those evacuated from the two nearby homes because of smoke were forced to wait an hour before being allowed back.

Firemen were at the scene for an initial four hours and later relief crews spent much of the day damping down.

Fire chiefs said earlier this week that the cause of the blaze was suspicious and enquires would be continuing.

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