A FIRE broke out inside a chicken shop this evening, filling the building and flats above with smoke.

A witness at the scene reported "an awful lot of smoke" coming from The Bok Shop in East Street, Brighton, and said fire engines were called to the street at about 5.50pm.

The fire service remain at the scene and people were evacuated from the building earlier this evening.

The Argus:

The witness said: "There was an awful lot of smoke coming out of the chicken shop.

"There are still fire engines there now and firefighters on the roof.

"I'm pretty sure they got everyone out, and the road has been cordoned off at that end."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called at 5.39pm to a takeaway shop in East Street.

The Argus:

"The building had four floors and flats above the shop.

"There was a fire in the shop with smoke logging the flats.

"We sent two fire engines and an aerial ladder platform and the fire has now been put out and the smoke cleared.

"The fire is being treated as accidental."