Person injured in fire at takeaway restaurant

A fire at a Chinese takeaway restaurant has left one person injured.

Firefighters were called to China Chef in Station Yard, Needham Market, Suffolk, to reports the first floor of a three-storey building was ablaze at 05:45 BST on Tuesday.

Four pumps and an aerial appliance were tackling the fire before it was put out at 07:43. Police were also on the scene, and pictures showed the roof had been badly damaged.

A Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said one person was being treated for burns to their face, arms and feet but everyone else had been accounted for.

A spokesperson for China Chef posted on Facebook confirming it had been affected by a fire.

"Unfortunate we had a fire visited to us at around 05:30 in the morning and took away our roof," they said.

"I'm very pleased, the lucky star with us this time, all our staffs got away from the fire, but one chef had some smoke and need some treatment in hospital, let's hope he can come home with nothing hurt.

"Thank you all caring messages."

Simon Little, who owns Needham Market Aerials Limited, which is next door to the affected building.

He was alerted to the fire at 06:15 by a colleague and travelled from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Having worked previously in the fire service for 20 years, Mr Little said the efforts to tackle the fire were "nothing short of remarkable".

"This a common sight for me, I've seen it many times, but driving here knowing what I was most likely to face, it is a miracle on the rapid response that the brigade have done and fabulous that Needham Market can respond so quickly."

Mr Little said his part of the building had only suffered some smoke damage and he felt the fire service had helped save his business.

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