POLICE were forced to close part of one of Southampton's busiest shopping streets this morning as fire broke out in a flat.

The blaze ripped through a third-floor bedroom above a row of estate agents.

As staff arrived at work thick smoke was billowing from the windows and the glass was shattering on to the pavement below.

The drama unfolded shortly before 9am in Shirley High Street.

Firefighters had to use breathing apparatus to search inside the property in case anybody had been trapped but fortunately there was no one inside.

Officers believe the blaze, which broke out at 8.45am in the flat next to McDonalds, could have been sparked by an electrical fault.

Staff from neighbouring businesses arrived at work to find the flat well alight and smoke billowing from the windows.

Lindsey Marshall, senior sales negotiator of Location estate agents said: "When I arrived at the office there was smoke coming out of the windows. I was concerned that there might be someone in there - it looked very hot."

Sub-Officer Colin Burford, of Redbridge fire station, said the fire could have been caused by an electrical appliance.

"If people are leaving a property they should turn off all electrical equipment," he said.