Firefighters called to blaze at former North End cinema

Firefighters from Southsea and Cosham were called to the former Odeon cinema in North End.

A spokesman from Southsea Fire Station said someone had broken into the building, off London Road, and started the fire on the top floor.

‘We were called at 5.30pm and when we arrived, the fire was quite large,’ he said.

‘It had been contained to one room but there was extensive smoke damage.

‘We used one hose reel to put it out and four appliances were sent.’

He added time was spent securing the building once the fire was out.

Police officers were also called to the scene and the incident was passed onto them.

No-one was in the building at the time of the blaze.