THE cause of a fire at a Worcester chip shop last week has been revealed.

Monarch Drive Chippy was engulfed in flames when a fire broke out at the shop on Friday evening (March 22).

People were forced to evacuate their flats as the chip shop set alight during a busy period for customers.

The fire brigade were called at 6:30pm to the incident where neighbours had been alerted to a large plume of black smoke billowing down Monarch Drive.

Residents of the flats above the shop said the ceiling of the chippy had "completely come through" and black smoke was "everywhere".

Neighbours said customers who had previously been waiting for their orders left the shop and huddled in the car park as fire crews tackled the blaze.

Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.

The initial cause of the fire was unknown as the time that the fire broke out, however, it is now believed that a faulty thermostat on a cooker unit led to the fire igniting.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: "Seven Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews – three from Worcester, two from Malvern and one each from Droitwich and Bromsgrove Fire Stations – plus the aerial ladder platform from Worcester and the incident command unit from Wyre Fire were called at 18:30 on 22 March to a building fire in Monarch Drive, Worcester.

"A fire in the frying range of a takeaway shop, around 15m by 8m, was contained to the unit and part of a row of shops and one-storey flats above.

"The fire was fought by four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using two hosereel jets.

"The surrounding flat and shop unit were checked for fire spread and ductwork was checked for hot spots.

"Crews dampened down and completed temperature checks. The incident was marked as pending closure at 20:41 but a reinspection took place at 23:15.

"The cause of fire is believed to be a faulty thermostat on a cooker unit. There were no casualties but police (log 431i) also attended. The incident was closed at 23:33."

Bad smoke damage could be seen at the front of the business the following morning (Saturday, March 23) with glass from the chip shop windows swept into a pile on the pavement.