A blaze that ripped through a landmark restaurant is not believed to be suspicious, firefighters have revealed.

TGI Friday’s on Hagley Road, on the border of Birmingham and Sandwell, was gutted in the huge fire which broke out at around 6am on August 12.

Since then restaurant bosses have revealed it is unlikely to reopen before next year because of the extensive rebuild and repair work that needs to be carried out.

West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Mike Fox today said while it was not arson the investigation into the blaze is still ongoing and the cause was uncertain.

As a result of the blaze nearby hotels and homes had to be evacuated as smoke billowed from the roof and the road was closed off causing tailbacks of more than two miles.

Seventy five firefighters tackled the blaze, which is believed to have started in the kitchen. An electricity substation had to be turned off over fears it could ignite.