Express & Star

IN PICTURES: Road closures near Bullring after Birmingham blaze

A blaze at a boarded up pub in Birmingham city centre forced the closure of a road near the Bullring shopping centre.

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Smoke was seen bellowing from the Fox and Grapes pub, off Park Street, Digbeth, after crews were called at around 1.15pm yesterday.

The road, which leads motorists towards car parks for the shopping centre, was partially closed while crews from five fire stations fought the blaze.

Crews from Highgate, Ladywood and Aston fire stations were joined by an incident support unit from Smethwick and an engine featuring a hydraulic platform from Oldbury to tackle the blaze.

Crews from West Midlands Fire Service remained at the scene into the evening to dampen down after the blaze. Officers from West Midlands Police were also at the scene.

No people were inside the pub at the time but it was visited by fire officers recently for checks after it was believed rough sleepers were inside.

Reports of fatalities in the fire are false.

Buses were diverted while the fire was brought under control.

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