Pantomime cancelled after fire

A performance of the Christmas pantomime was cancelled

About 1,000 people, including many children, were forced to leave a Christmas pantomime in Belfast after a fire in a bin set off the sprinkler system.

Tuesday night's performance of Dick Whittington at the Grand Opera House, starring Eastenders' actor Leslie Grantham, was cancelled after the incident.

The blaze was detected in the gallery area just as people were returning to their seats after the interval.

The fire had started in a men's toilet in the building. It is thought someone smoked a cigarette and threw the butt into a paper towel bin, which then caught fire.

The sprinkler system sensed the heat change and went into action.

Grand Opera House Director John Botteley said: "We are a no-smoking building, it looks as though one of the audience went into one of the toilets, had a crafty cigarette, threw it out in the bin and there was paper in the bin that set the bin alight.

"As soon as the smoke detectors picked up the scent, the building was evacuated and the fire department called."

Leslie Grantham kept the crowd amused outside the building

Within three minutes the theatre was empty and the fire was out.

Station Officer Michael Neeson said an official investigation was under way to determine the cause.

He said a lot of flood damage had been caused to the venue.

"A sprinkler head controlled the fire locally before we arrived," he said.

"These systems release a large amount of water and it ran right through the electrics causing an extensive amount of damage."

Mr Neeson praised theatre staff for quickly and safely evacuating the venue.

"Leslie Grantham even came out to speak to the crew, so that was nice," he added.