FIREFIGHTERS have been called to a blaze at a city-centre restaurant.

Three Hampshire Fire and Rescue engines were sent to TGI Fridays at WestQuay Retail Park in Southampton at about 2pm yeaterday

The fire broke out in a room adjacent to the kitchen and the ground floor filled full of smoke.

Redbridge station commander Paul Riddell said: "Three appliances attended and when we arrived the building was heavily smoke logged.

"There was a developing fire when we got here.

"Six breathing apparatus wearers and a number of small jets were used to locate and extinguish the fire.

"The fire was in a small room next to the kitchen and the cause is under investigation.

"Twenty firefighters from Redbridge, High town, St Mary's and Eastleigh were here.

"We're now using positive pressure to remove the smoke from the building before we hand it back.

"Members of the public might have seen smoke coming out of the roof tiles but this was because of the pitched roof - you tend to find that smoke gathers in roofs like that.

"The roof space wasn't on fire though.

"TGI Manager safely evacuated everyone before we got here. 

"They helpfully isolated the gas and electric for us and gave us plans of the building."