A fast food restaurant along one of the Black Country’s busiest roads was today facing being closed for weeks after being ravaged by fire.

Customers and staff were evacuated from KFC, on Penn Road, Wolverhampton, when the severe blaze broke out yesterday afternoon.

The fire ripped through the roof of the restaurant and sent burning debris and tiles crashing to the ground.

Four fire engines from Wolverhampton, Fallings Park and Bilston, as well as a hydraulic platform from Walsall, were called to the burning building just after 3pm.

Passing motorists slowed down and shocked onlookers gathered to watch the drama unfold. A spokesman for KFC said today the cause of the outbreak was still a mystery.

“Our Penn Road restaurant is currently closed following a fire in the roof,” he said.

“Staff and customers are safe and left the restaurant as soon as the fire began.

“We will be working with the fire brigade to understand the cause of this fire and will open the restaurant as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Staff were also evacuated from the nearby Waitrose petrol station as a precaution when the blaze broke out.

Police closed off a slip road from Penn Road which leads to the restaurant, causing traffic to back up towards the Fox Hotel.

Investigations were today ongoing by the fire service into the cause of the outbreak. Gaping holes can be seen in the roof of the restaurant where flames shot through, and the drive-through lane was today covered in debris, although the distinctive red signs and windows remain intact.

By Victoria Nash