DOZENS of residents had to be evacuated after a chip shop caught fire on a Southampton estate.

Twenty-five fire fighters were last night called out to tackle the blaze at the chippy in a parade of eight shops in Townhill Way.

Ten flats above the shops and an Indian restaurant were evacuated. The alarm was raised at 9.15pm.

Firefighters from Hightown, St Mary's and Redbridge stations went to the fire. The cause is under investigation.