A SEVERE fire raged in a first floor flat above a row of shops in Chester, prompting several 999 calls from residents and 'terrified' shop owners.

The incident happened at lunch time on Friday in Vicars Cross Road and the fire was visible from the street below - the flat was left gutted by the flames.

The fire service received their first call at 12.47pm and initially the incident was attended by two appliances - one from nearby Ellesmere Port.

A pump from Chester was first on the scene and two firefighters entered the flat with a hose reel and wearing breathing apparatus. At that stage they were unsure if anyone was in the property and they conducted an extensive search of the flat.

The fire increased in intensity with three of the four rooms in the flat engulfed in flames.

Joy Nicklin, who runs beauticians 1st 4 Nails below the flat, described the experience as 'terrifying'. She said: 'A man came into the shop and told me my upstairs

was on fire but at first I sat around for 10 minutes expecting someone to sort it out. Then I realised I had to get out.'

Fortunately the shop escaped without much damage and was able to partially open the next day.

Mrs Nicklin added: 'It was an incredibly lucky escape. I've been open just over a year and when I saw the fire I thought it was the end of my business.'

Cutting It - the hairdressers next door - was less fortunate but despite serious damage which left part of the shop completely exposed to the elements, the staff are just getting on with things as normal.

'There is a real Dunkirk spirit at the moment,' Mrs Nicklin said.

The fire began to spread to the roof space of the old fashioned terraced building and to the neighbouring flat so Watch Manager Tony Jones called for two further appliances and a hydraulic platform to attend the incident.

The crews then created a fire break, effectively removing a large number of roof tiles from the front and rear of the property.

The cause of the fire is currently being investigated and police are appealing for anyone with any information to contact the officer in the case DS Simon Blackwell of Chester SIU on 01244 613134 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.