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Ice cream van fire spreads to first-floor flat in Smethwick

A blaze which started in an ice cream van spread to a nearby flat in Smethwick.

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The burnt-out remains of the ice cream truck and the charred buildings. Photo: @ResponseWMP

Firefighters were called to Cape Hill at midday today to reports of an ice cream truck on fire.

The van was parked on the pavement outside Jhoots Pharmacy and the blaze quickly spread to a first-floor flat above the shop.

Around 20 firefighters in four fire engines were sent to the scene near the junction with Waterloo Road and Windmill Lane.

Images taken at the scene by police officers, who closed off the busy road, showed firefighters using ladders to reach the flat and extinguish the flames.

The burnt-out shell of the ice cream truck could be seen below the charred building.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "We were called at 12pm to Cape Hill, a 999 call reporting a vehicle on fire.

"We then received further information that it had spread to a nearby building.

"Four fire engines and 20 firefighters are on the scene, crews have described it as a severe fire at a first floor flat above a business."

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