A shop was destroyed and its stock destroyed in a fire yesterday.

Fire crews from Fairweather Green were called to Fancy Store on Duckworth Lane at 10.15am.

A spokesman for the fire service said an electrical fault sparked the blaze near the back of the shop, which was closed at the time.

People living in flats above the shop were evacuated and escaped unharmed.

The shop sold electrical goods and gifts.

Duckworth Lane was temporarily closed because of the fire, causing traffic congestion and delays on nearby roads including Durham Road and Toller Lane.

Fire crews were on the scene until about 2.15pm completing an investigation into the cause of the blaze, before being called to the fire at the Pakeezah supermarket in Ingleby Road.