Huge blaze hits Smethwick supermarket

A devastating fire ripped through a supermarket in the Black Country today, forcing people to be rescued from their homes from upstairs windows by firefighters.

Sixty firefighters battled the blaze at K2 Supermarket in Smethwick, with debris raining down into the street as the roof and first floor of the building in Claremont Road collapsed.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures.

The blaze broke out at just after 1am at the store, which is opposite the Cape Hill branch of Asda.

Watch commander John Wildman said the roof had started to collapse while two firefighters were tackling flames inside.

He said the ceiling structure gave way with the heat, leaving bricks and rubble "showering" on to the street outside.