A BLAZE above a Holland Park newsagents forced the evacuation of a primary school on Friday morning.
Fire took hold of Mandeep Newsagents in Addison Avenue, near Shepherd's Bush Roundabout, at about 8.40am. A short time later more than 250 children and staff were evacuated from the adjoining Norland Place School, as more than 20 firefighters battled to control the blaze.
Shop worker Jor Parikh said the business had been trading for about six years and that the blaze had been almost completely destroyed inside. Mr Parikh, who was working inside at the time of the fire, said: "I think it started in a fuse box. We heard a noise, then saw a bit of smoke but within a minute or two flames had started and were really big. It was amazing how little time it took for it to get like that.
"We went outside the shop and called the fire brigade, who came quickly. Then all the children came out of the school."
Mr Parikh said he wasn't sure if or when the popular community shop would reopen, adding: "It is really badly burned inside with a lot of smoke damage so I cannot say what is going to happen. It is a big surprise and we are all quite shocked."
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: "Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters were called to a fire in a shop on Addison Avenue today. Part of the ground floor and part of the basement of the single storey building was damaged by fire. Around 250 school children and 25 staff members were temporarily evacuated from the adjoining school as a precaution.
"The Brigade was called at 0842 and the fire was under control by 1011. Firefighters from North Kensington and Hammersmith fire stations were at the scene. The cause of the blaze is under investigation."
