DOZENS of fire-fighters tackled a blaze next to a major Southampton shopping centre.

The fire broke out in West Quay management suite in the kitchen area of the basement.

A total of 30 firefighters battled the flames and five fire engines from Hightown, Redbridge and St Mary’s Fire Station were called to the scene.

Firefighters used an aerial appliance from St Mary’s and a specialist equipment unit along with four breathing apparatus and two jets to clear plumes of smoke coming from the kitchen.

The management suite building which is attached onto West Quay was evacuated, but the main shopping centre was not.

Fire-fighters battled the smoke for an hour and a half after the blaze broke out at 4pm, it was brought under control by 5.30pm.

Watch Manager at St Mary’s Fire Station, Stewart Vince, said: “It was a good job well done, we got the fire under control fairly quickly and members of the public were not affected.”