A petrol station in Wolverhampton was shut today following a fire on the forecourt.

A forecourt attendant averted a potential disaster at the 24-hour BP garage on Stafford Road, Fordhouses.

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One of the overhead lights on the forecourt is thought to have short-circuited at around 3am yesterday, causing sparks to ignite fuel fumes on the ground.

Flames quickly engulfed a petrol pump and spread to the roof, setting light to the canopy and damaging the plastic overhead sign.

The attendant, who was working alone, raised the alarm just in time as the blaze threatened to engulf other pumps. Two fire crews from Fallings Park were called to the scene and police closed off Stafford Road as smoke billowed across the carriageway.

Crew commander Karl James said: “The fuel pump was well alight when we arrived and the flames had spread onto the roof and started to burn the canopy.

“Four of the crew wearing breathing apparatus managed to stop the fire in its tracks. It could have been very nasty if it had spread to the other pumps.”