FIREFIGHTERS from two counties tackled a major fire at a terraced commercial property in Finkle Street in Richmond.

The alarm was raised by a delivery driver at 5.11am and high winds caused the blaze to spread quickly to other properties including a sandwich shop and a beauty salon.

North Yorkshire firefighters called their Cleveland colleagues for assistance and crews with support vehicles from as far away as Malton and Middlesbrough including two aerial ladders fought the blaze. It is understood sandwich shop Tasty Macs and the Urban Spa Retreat beauty salon are the worst affected but other properties along the terrace have also been damaged.

Local residents wereevacuated and roads closed.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the fire started in the early hours of this morning and spread quickly due to high winds.

Victoria Road was currently closed to traffic with a diversion in place via Hurgill Road and Quaker Lane."