Firefighters attended a blaze on the roof of a shop in central York today after a generator caught fire.

Flames from the standby generator on the roof of Marks & Spencer, in Coppergate, were visible from the street at 1.50am this morning.

Firefighters called an engineer from the electricity board to make sure the generator was safe before dousing the flames.

The generator's battery was completely destroyed.

An electrical fault is thought to be the cause of the blaze.

The store opened as usual today. Shop manager Brian Littlejohn said no damage had been done to stock.

Meanwhile, Bonfire Night came early for some people last night as firefighters were called to two fires which had been set alight early.

The foundations for two bonfires had been laid in Whitby and Scarborough, but both were set alight well before Bonfire Night.

Flames from a bonfire in a playing field at Abbots Road, Whitby, were visible from beyond the harbour at midnight last night. Firefighters had contained the blaze by 12.45am today.

Firefighters were also called to an early bonfire in Merrydale, in the Eastfield area of Scarborough, at 6.45pm yesterday evening.

One firefighter commented: "They really shouldn't do the fires so early, it's just asking for trouble."

Updated: 10:47 Tuesday, October 14, 2003