Hospital evacuated after fire

The fire broke out on the second floor

Patients at a hospital in Cheshire have been moved to other beds after their wards were evacuated when fire broke out.

About 90 patients were taken to another wing of Warrington General Hospital after the fire in a surgical ward on Friday.

An ambulance crew member raised the alarm when smoke was seen billowing from the second floor window at 1700 BST on Friday.

The hospital said no-one was injured in the fire and the patients were being assessed.

Cause unknown

A spokesman for North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The fire broke out just before 1700 BST in the second floor of the main wing of the hospital.

"A number of patients and staff were evacuated to a neighbouring wing.

"There are no fatalities and, at this stage, we do not believe there are any injuries.

"The ward was a surgical ward and we have no idea yet about the cause of the fire."

Divisional Officer Kevin Hughes of Cheshire Fire Services told BBC News 24 the fire was extinguished at 1748 BST.

Helpline number

The hospital spokesman said one ward had been severely damaged by fire and a number of others were affected by smoke and water.

He added a helpline number for any members of the public worried about relatives had been set up on 01925 662328.

He said: "We have endeavoured to contact relatives of all the patients on the affected wards but we are providing this number as a service to anyone who is worried."

The hospital said an inquiry was under way into how the fire started.