A COFFEE shop was evacuated after a fire.

The fire took place in a corridor next to Wayland's Yard on Foregate Street in Worcester at 12.45pm today.

The coffee shop has been evacuated, although shop owner Sam Smith told a passer-by that it should re-open shortly.

Mr Smith said: "We have evacuated the shop and will not be opening until the fire service have confirmed that it is safe.

"It was only a small fire and it was not in the actual shop."

Passerby Aaron Michael Jenkins said: "[I] was just walking through town from Barbourne and saw two fire engines outside foregate street."

Firefighters praised Mr Smith and his staff for evacuating the premises promptly after fire alarms went off.

The fire was put out before two fire engines arrived at the shop, with safety checks now being carried out before it can re-open.

The fire started in a corridor where building work was taking place, although Hereford and Worcester fire service could not confirm what caused the fire.