Bookmaker blaze in Shirley shuts High Street

Shirley High Street was closed this morning so crews could tackle a fire at a bookmakers.The first 999 call was received at 05:21 after a member of the public had heard a smoke alarm sounding in the property.Firefighters from Redbridge, St Mary?s, Eastleigh, Totton, Romsey and Beaulieu were called to the fire at the north end of the high street.Aerial ladders from St Mary?s and Southsea fire stations were also mobilised to assist in tackling the blaze which affected the unoccupied flat on the first floor of the building, and the roof.Hampshire Constabulary closed the high street to allow crews to get the best access to fight the fire.Relief crews came to replace the firefighters that were first in attendance, as the incident was scaled back when damping down.The fire was extinguished using three jets, two hose reels, ten sets of breathing apparatus as well as the two aerial ladder platforms.The stop message came in at 12:44 with the Fire Investigation team set to attend the scene.The High Street has now been reopened.