A SOUTHAMPTON Argos was engulfed in smoke after a fire involving a toilet last night.

Four fire engines from both St Mary's and Hightown were joined by a support vehicle from Eastleigh in tackling the fire at the Argos near the Bargate monument in the city centre.

According to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the blaze, which was in the basement, involved a toilet macerator, which is a pump in the flushing system.

Crews spent two-and-a-half hours battling the fire, which started shortly after 9.30pm, with the stop message coming just after midnight.

The store was closed at the time of the fire, with no cause yet established.