FIREFIGHTERS battled an intense blaze which gutted a maisonette above a shop, today.

The windows of two-floor flat above the More Or Less A Pound store in Gresham Road, Dines Green, were left blackened following the fire at about 4pm.

At least two people, including a woman and a young boy, escaped from the building after the property’s smoke alarm went off.

Firefighters received an emergency call with persons reported and rushed three fire appliances from Worcester and Malvern to the scene.

Two more fire engines were brought in after officers arrived to find smoke pouring from the masionette’s upper storey windows.

Crew equipped with breathing apparatus entered the building by a ground floor stairwell and used hose reels to tackle the flames.

At the height of the fire, about 25 firefighters were at the scene, attracting dozens of people out from the nearby shops and homes.

Charlotte Hudson, pharmacy technician at neighbouring Murray’s Pharmacy, had no idea there was a fire until she heard sirens outside.

She said: “I went to the shop window and saw an awful lot of thick black smoke coming from the building.

“I went next door to check everybody was out and saw lots of people standing around outside.”

Ian Prust, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service group manager, said: “When we arrived there were flames coming from both the front and back of the upper floor bedroom. It was a very intense fire.

“Firefighters searched the building and fortunately all the people were out of the property.

“The reason for that - and I cannot stress enough the importance - was they had a working smoke alarm which alerted the occupiers.”

He added firefighters had managed to prevent the worst of the flames spreading into neighbouring roof spaces.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze has now been launched.