A POPULAR Pendle chip shop was gutted by fire over the weekend.

Kelbrook Fisheries, in Colne Road, was severely damaged by fire after an electrical fault in a fuse box caused flames to spread through the building.

The Green Goddess was alerted to the fire at 9.44am on Saturday during the firefighters' latest 48-hour strike and they arrived on scene at 9.54am.

It was originally reported that people were inside the building so Colne's retained firefighting crew also attended and helped to bring the fire under control. It was later discovered the shop was empty.

The fire was put out by 10.12am and no one was injured although the shop is likely to be closed for some time.

A relative of the owners, who was helping to clear up the debris, said they were too upset and too busy to comment on what had happened but said they apologised to all their customers for the inconvenience.

She said: "The chippy part was destroyed and the conservatory which is the cafe section was filled with smoke and will need a lot of cleaning and redecorating before it is fit to re-open.

"It is a very busy chippy and a lot of people have been coming along for food so we have had to put up a sign to tell them it is shut.

"They often wait in the bus shelter outside until they see a table come free in the cafe and then they dash in."