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Sudbury residents rescued from flats as blaze takes hold Sudbury residents rescued from flats as blaze takes hold
(about 2 hours later)
A major fire has broken out in a block of flats in a Suffolk market town forcing police to evacuate the area. A fire has broken out in a block of flats in a Suffolk market town forcing police to evacuate the area.
Fire crews rescued several people trapped inside the building as a blaze erupted in Sudbury on Sunday evening. Fire crews rescued several people trapped inside the building as the blaze erupted in Sudbury on Sunday evening.
Police were called at 6.25pm to help firefighters who were tackling the blaze. Dramatic photos posted on Twitter show part of the city centre cordoned off as firefighters battle the blaze while thick black smoke billows into the sky. Police were called at 6.25pm to help firefighters who were tackling the blaze. Dramatic photos posted on Twitter show part of the town centre cordoned off as firefighters battle the blaze while thick black smoke billows into the sky.
In a statement Suffolk police said: “Shortly after 7pm police began a full-scale evacuation of the immediate area as the fire spread. Suffolk police said: “Shortly after 7pm police began a full-scale evacuation of the immediate area as the fire spread.
“As of 7.30pm up to 20 people had been moved from their homes. Police have also begun contacting business keyholders where possible.“As of 7.30pm up to 20 people had been moved from their homes. Police have also begun contacting business keyholders where possible.
“The fire service are believed to have 15 appliances at the scene in a bid to get the blaze under control.“The fire service are believed to have 15 appliances at the scene in a bid to get the blaze under control.
“The cause of the fire is currently unknown, with the priority being public safety, and arrangements being made to house those who have been evacuated.”“The cause of the fire is currently unknown, with the priority being public safety, and arrangements being made to house those who have been evacuated.”
Luke Cresswell, a teaching assistant and local councillor, said: “I saw around 20 people being evacuated.Luke Cresswell, a teaching assistant and local councillor, said: “I saw around 20 people being evacuated.
“They looked really shaken up, some of them were crying. A couple of the young girls only looked around five or six years-old and were very upset. “They looked really shaken up. Some of them were crying. A couple of the young girls only looked around five or six years-old and were very upset.
“They were given blankets and taken to the side by an ambulance where they were being looked after.”“They were given blankets and taken to the side by an ambulance where they were being looked after.”
Others were trapped inside a flat and had to be rescued as the fire ripped through several shops and adjoining flats in the town centre.Others were trapped inside a flat and had to be rescued as the fire ripped through several shops and adjoining flats in the town centre.
Cresswell, 27, said: “The fire is huge and proper black. I kept thinking it had died down but it flared up again.”Cresswell, 27, said: “The fire is huge and proper black. I kept thinking it had died down but it flared up again.”
He said it looked like the fire had started in a nail shop and spread to a charity shop and bank. All the shops have flats above them.He said it looked like the fire had started in a nail shop and spread to a charity shop and bank. All the shops have flats above them.