A DEPARTMENT store in Hampshire had to be evacuated after black smoke billowed from its roof.

Marks and Spencer in Winchester High Street removed its customers after hot oil leaked onto a generator in the roof of the shop, causing heavy smoke to emerge.

Winchester Fire Station sent two engines to the scene shortly after 9.30am. Watch Manager Allister Owen said the situation was not as it appeared and praised the shop for taking the right action.

He said: “It looked a lot worse than it was. There was oily smoke coming from a generator, but they isolated the power to it.

“They did everything right really, they evacuated the store and they called us as soon as possible.”