Gym blaze sparks area evacuation

Residents had to be evacuated from their homes when a blaze broke out at a martial arts gym in Lancashire.

About 40 people were led to safety after fire broke out at the gym on Cross Street, Fleetwood, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Firefighters and four appliances were called to tackle the blaze at the three-storey terraced building just before 0430 BST.

A sniffer dog was also called in to help determine the cause of the blaze.

Nearby residents were evacuated to the Marine Hall in Fleetwood as a precaution because of thick smoking drifting across the area.

However, it is not thought that anyone was injured in the blaze.