FIREFIGHTERS have been tackling a blaze at Winsford Cross shopping centre this evening, September 28.

Eyewitnesses posting on social media have reported seeing the roof of the shopping centre on fire since before 7.50pm, in the area where Home Bargains is.

Six fire engines have been sent out to the scene, including two from Winsford, two from Northwich, one from Middlewich and one from Sandbach, as well as an aerial ladder platform from Chester.

Northwich Guardian:

Image: Mike Fitz

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service announced that the fire had been extinguished shortly before 10pm.

A spokesman at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "At around 7.45pm firefighters were called to reports of a roof being on fire at a shopping centre in Dene Drive, Winsford.

"They discovered that the fire was on the roof of a two-storey shop measuring approximately 40 metres by 20 metres. A cordon was set up and the firefighting activity was split into sectors.

"An aerial ladder platform enabled firefighters to fight the fire from above. They did so with a hose reel jet. A hose reel jet was also used to fight the fire from the ground.

"Firefighters have extinguished the fire, which was contained to the roof. They have inspected the shop to make sure that the fire did not spread inside the building."

Crews cut away and removed parts of the roof that were on fire, and remained at the scene for three hours before they were satisfied it was safe.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.