Road closed following fire at A140 in Long Stratton

A section of the A140 at Long Stratton has been closed because a business along the road has set ablaze.

Fire crews were called to the properties opposite the Shell Garage at 1.48pm today.

The fire is understood to have engulfed to upper floor of three properties along a parade of shops on the road – one of them being Bekays DIY and Hardware Store.

There are six appliances currently at the scene from Earlham, Harleston and Hethersett.

An employee from a nearby business said: "There's an awful lot of firemen around –it's still very, very smoky.

"We saw when the first one went up. My car was parked behind the back so I went to get it and within minutes it had spread right across three shops."

Traffic is being diverted along the B1527, A143 and A146 and A47.

A spokesperson for Norfolk Police said: "Officers were called to the A140 at Long Stratton in order to assist the fire service with a building fire. Road closures are in place along the A140, The Street and Swann Lane.

"We are assisting with traffic control but fire are currently leading."

More to follow