Fire damages Brighton restaurant

Fire crews tackled a blaze at a restaurant in one of Brighton’s busiest roads at lunchtime today.

The fire at La Tasca in North Street was believed to have been started by a deep fat frier and spread to an extractor fan.

Some 45 firefighters dealt with the fire and evacuated the 32 flats in the same building – Princes House – which backs on to the Royal Pavilion gardens.

The blaze was quickly put out. The crews from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service then worked to clear the building of smoke.

Buses were diverted as North Street was closed. The road has since reopened.