Dogs used in fire investigation

Residents have been allowed to return to evacuated homes nearby

Sniffer dogs are being brought in to examine the wreckage after a fire at a church hall in Leicester.

The blaze broke out just off Hinckley Road at around 0130 GST and at its height around 35 firefighters battled the flames.

Nearby houses had to be evacuated, but residents have now been allowed home.

The fire caused extensive damage to the Westcotes United Reform church hall, which is used by the New Life International congregation.

It is thought the fire broke out on the second floor of the three-storey building. Nobody was reported injured.

Fire crews have been damping down at the scene.

Paul Dickens from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Because of the level of destruction, you'll appreciate that it is quite difficult to be accurate in terms of determining the exact location of where one or more fires were started and then what the cause might be.

"So it's a little bit painstakingly slow at times."