FIREFIGHTERS tackled a fire at Christina's Café in Coleford in the early hours of Monday morning (August 1).

Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service were called to the fire at about 4.40am and arrived to find the Pyart Court cafe alight.

Fire officers say it was apparent the fire had been building-up for some time, making it even more hazardous for firefighters to enter.

Group manager Simon McMillan who was in charge of the fire-fighting operation said: "Our priority was to rescue anyone who might have been in the café, and also to extinguish the fire to prevent it spreading to other businesses in the centre.

"As the fire had considerably built up and the situation had become increasingly dangerous, putting other business within the centre at risk, a further fire engine from Cinderford was requested and came promptly to the scene to support their Coleford colleagues."

Group manager McMillan went on to say "This fire represents a huge tragedy for the cafe owners, who have our sincere sympathy, we are just grateful that it was possible to confine the blaze to that part of the building leaving other businesses able to continue operating."

Investigations are continuing to find out how the fire started.

• Fire fighters from Lydney were also called out to tackle a waste lorry fire on Beachley Road, Beachley, near Chepstow early on Tuesday morning (August 2).