Dunelm Northampton retail park fire sees animals and shoppers evacuated

Shoppers and animals have been evacuated from a retail park in Northamptonshire while firefighters battle a large blaze.

Emergency services are on the scene of the fire at a Dunelm store in the St James Retail Park, in Northampton.

In images sent to the BBC, thick plumes of smoking can be seen billowing into the sky from the home furnishing store.

Northamptonshire Police and the Northamptonshire Fire Service said “no one is believed to be injured” while animals in the Pets at Home shop next door have been “moved to safety”.

The emergency services have advised local residents to keep windows and doors shut until further notice.

Towcester Road is also currently shut between the St Peter’s Way roundabout and the Shell Garage roundabout.

“Thank you for your patience and we will provide updates as and when we are able to,” emergency services added in a joint statement.

Shopper Kirsty Connor, who was at the retail park with her children, said seeing the smoke coming from the building was “horrible to watch”.

“My daughter was crying over the animals in Pets at Home because she is hoping they are safe,” she said.

Another eyewitness described the scene as “awful and very scary”.

“I just hope that all the staff and animals from Pets at Home, which is just next door, are all out safe,” she told the BBC.

“We are getting lots of queries in relation to the fire at St James Retail Park regarding the safety of the pets at the store next to the Dunhelm building,” police said.

“We have made inquiries and can confirm that the store manager has made swift arrangements to move the animals to safety.”