Police close off Bartholomew Street in Newbury after Fire in disused Sports Bar

Police have closed off Bartholomew Street in Newbury this evening following a fire breaking out in a disused building. Police have closed the road in both directions whilst fire crews from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue are supported by Crews from Hampshire and Oxfordshire fire and Rescue tackle the blaze that ripped through the disused building just after 5pm It is thought that the disused building has been used by homeless people. Early reports are no one is thought to have been in the building or hurt. Smoke could be seen billowing across the street. [photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000chw3NFtSpqY” g_name=”Sports-Bar-Fire-Newbury” width=”800″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ] A number of Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus with hose reels have been tackling the fire. Whilst drivers attempt to fight the rush traffic in an attempt to get out of the town centre. Crews stationed at Kingsclere and Tadley have also been called in an attempt to contain the fire that is believed to have broken out in a empty building previously occupied by Bar Sport. A spokesman for RBFRS said: “That they receive a call at round 5pm a number of appliances have been sent to the scene. Three fire appliances from Newbury Fire Station with other surrounding station supporting the crews. The spokesman went on to say that the blaze has been brought under control and an investigation into the how the fire started would take place.