A blaze which has caused extensive damage to a former Carlisle club has been extinguished.

Fire crews have returned to the scene of the fire at the former Ukrainian Club and a spokesman said they are now confident the fire has been extinguished.

Twenty-five firefighters from Wigton, Longtown, Penrith and Carlisle’s two stations descended on Silloth Street yesterday.

Fears that part of the building may collapse prompted the closure of the A595 Wigton Road between Caldewgate and Stanhope Road during the peak Friday afternoon rush hour.

A former licensee of the club, which closed over a year ago, provided vital details to assist firefighters.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus checked there was nobody in the building before it became too dangerous for them to tackle it from the inside.

An aerial appliance was used to help them douse flames breaking through the roof and a command unit to co-ordinate teams parked up in Wigton Road at around 6pm.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service incident commander Bruce Wilson said investigations will be continuing into the cause.