Firefighters have prevented fire spreading through a block of shops in Charnwood this afternoon.

At approximately 1.40pm firefighters were driving through the Charnwood shops carpark when one of them noticed smoke and fire coming from the flue of one of the businesses.

At the same time owners were on the phone to passing through information to 000.

Firefighters extinguished the fire, containing it to one shop before it could spread and cause further damage.

As a precaution, crews evacuated neighbouring occupancies until it was safe to return.

No injuries were reported from the scene.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.