A SHOPPING centre had to be evacuated after a fire in a department store that started in a clothing rack.

Debenhams, in the Royals Shopping Centre in Southend, was left badly smoke-damaged after the small blaze at about 1.45pm yesterday.

Hundreds of customers had to be asked to leave the centre while four crews from Southend, Shoebury and Rochford put the fire out.

Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hare said: "When crews at the arrived at the incident they found lots of smoke in the shop, the shop had already been completely evacuated.

"The shop's sprinkler system had activated which meant that the fire was almost completely extinguished by the time we arrived.

“The fire was not very big, but it did produce a lot of smoke.”

It is understood the blaze started in or underneath a clothing rack and the fire service is carrying out and investigation into the cause.

A spokesman for the Royals Shopping Centre said: “Emergency services were called to The Royals Shopping Centre in Southend High Street around 1.45pm on Tuesday, 25 April, following reports of a fire in Debenhams.

“The whole shopping centre was evacuated as a safety precaution. The fire has now been extinguished. No one was hurt. An investigation is now underway.”