A shopping centre in Leicestershire has suffered severe damage following a substantial fire which erupted overnight. The blaze at Thurmaston Shopping Centre on Barkby Thorpe Lane was reported at approximately 4am on Saturday, triggering a major emergency response as firefighters raced to tackle the flames.

Eight fire engines, two aerial appliances and more than 40 firefighters attended the scene, in what is believed to be amongst the largest emergency responses in recent memory. Residents were urged to keep windows and doors shut owing to an extensive smoke plume surrounding the affected vicinity.

Photographs from the scene reveal the fierce blaze ripping through several retail units at the shopping centre, while a section of the roof appears to have caved in. The cause of the fire remains unclear at this stage.

The fire seems to have originated in a Mountain Warehouse, with a neighbouring Greggs and M&S also shutting because of the blaze.

Other retailers in the unit, including Puregym, Superdrug, Boots and Sports Direct, are all expected to reopen later today.

"I couldn't believe it. Nothing has ever happened like this around here," local resident Jordan Slack, 29, told Leicestershire Live.

"I've come down this morning to get to the gym but obviously it's been closed off. I had photos come in from local WhatsApp groups of the fire around 5am. I was shocked.

"I mean this shopping centre has been here for around 20 years and it's the first big incident we've had here."

A substantial gathering of onlookers assembled in the vicinity this morning to assess the destruction and observe firefighters battling the flames.

"Nothing really happens in Thurmaston so as you can see everyone is out here this morning seeing what's happened," Jordan added.

"When I first saw the pictures, I thought the fire would take the whole shopping centre but thankfully it was stopped before it grew further."