A FIRE at Warrington Hospital is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Smoke was seen billowing from the Lovely Lane site's Kendrick wing from around 1.30pm yesterday, Friday.

The building was evacuated and everyone has been accounted for.

It is thought that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Watch our video live from the scene by clicking here.

Breast screenings and eye appointments due to take place this afternoon were cancelled.

Patients who were due to attend for opthalmology appointments on Monday, March 26, have also now been told that their appointments will be rescheduled.

The opthalmology department has suffered smoke and water damage due to the blaze, but the rest of the Warrington Hospital site is running as normal.

Police, ambulance and fire services attended the scene but no casualties were reported.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue service spokesman said that everyone had been safely accounted for, with staff and patients on the wing evacuated.

They added that the fire was in a loft space of the admin block and affected around 30 per cent of the roof.

It was extinguished at around 3.45pm, and crews are now working with staff to salvage property.

A spokesman for Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "All staff and patients were safely evacuated, and our thanks go to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cheshire Police for their prompt response and action.

"The cause of the fire is being investigated, but early indicators are that it was electrical.

"Extensive fire safety precautions that have been undertaken over the past 18 months in this most aged part of our estate played their part in preventing the fire from spreading and causing further damage.

"The fire was quickly brought under control, and salvage and securing of the building is underway."

Eight fire engines were sent to the scene - one from Penketh, one from Birchwood, one from Widnes, one from Runcorn and one from Lymm as well as an hydraulic platform from Lymm.

Three fire crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were also on site.

Warrington Hospital's spokesman added: "The opthalmology department has suffered smoke and water damage, and patients that are due to attend for outpatients appointments on Monday, March 26, should not attend.

"They will be contacted to reschedule their appointments.

"Patients requiring emergency eye treatments should attend the opthalmology day case unit on the first floor of the Appleton wing - patients due to have eye procedures are unaffected and should attend Appleton wing as normal.

"Breast services, surgical appliances and cardiorespiratory services located in Kendrick wing are all open as normal, and patients should continue to attend for their appointments unless contacted directly.

"No other parts of the hospital were affected.

"Our sincere apologies to all patients, visitors and members of the public that were inconvenienced today as a consequence of the fire.

"We thank you for your patience and understanding."

Firefighters set up covering jets and hose reels to fight the fire.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were sent into the Kendrick wing to tackle the blaze with hose reel jets, with further crews stationed outside the building.

A platform was used to fight the fire from above, while crews removed roof tiles in order to get at the blaze.

The Kendrick wing is the oldest building on the Lovely Lane site and is two-storeys high.

As well as opthalmology and breast screening services, it houses much of the administration of Warrington Hospital.

The fire could be seen from as far away as Fox Covert.