Customers and staff evacuated from Booths supermarket in Longton following fire

The incident happened at around 10am after fire alarms activated at the supermarket.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) sent four engines to the incident from the Penwortham, Tarleton, Leyland and Preston stations.

A spokesman for LFRS said a small electrical fire had started in the warehouse section of the supermarket and that it had already been self-extinguished when firefighters arrived at the scene.

The spokesman added: "We used ventilators to clear the smoke and only minor damage had been caused by the fire. Customers and staff were then safe to re-enter the building."

An eyewitness reported that everyone was evacuated from the store for around 30 minutes before they were allowed back in.

The Longton store was built on the site of an old mansion house in 2001. The store underwent refurbishments in October last year including the addition of hot food facilities to the cafe.

Booths has been contacted for comment.