FIREFIGHTERS battled a blaze in a Westbourne office after a shredder reportedly caught fire.

Four crews were sent to the offices above Coral in Seamoor Road at 11.55am on Tuesday after smoke was seen billowing from a window.

However, those working nearby say no alarms sounded - and they only decided to get out after smelling the smoke.

Julie Ward was had been visiting Fab Frocks to buy a dress ahead of daughter Katherine Mitchell's wedding when she saw the fire take hold.

"I saw what looked like a puff of smoke in the air," she said.

"Then we saw the fire engines. All of a sudden, there was a lot more smoke - there were huge billows of it."

Luke Wakeford, who works in a digital agency next door, said: "We decided to leave because we could smell the smoke, but we didn't hear an alarm sounding at all.

"I've heard it was started by a shredder that just caught fire."

Luke's colleague Dave Hulbert said: "I was in the toilet when everyone started leaving.

"I realised I could smell something strange."
 

Bournemouth Echo:

Fire crews had extinguished the blaze by 12.35pm.

One lane of the one-way system through Westbourne was closed to allow crews to work safely.

However, motorists were still able to pass the scene of the fire, and only short delays were reported.

Firefighters could be seen climbing a ladder propped up against the windowsill of the first-floor office to investigate.

The property appeared to have sustained significant smoke damage.