RESIDENTS are being told to avoid the A41 in Eastham due to a fire in a shop.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is currently in attendance on Eastham Village Road, Eastham, following reports of a building fire at Appliance Express Ltd.

Crews were alerted at 9.36am and on the scene at 9.42am. Four fire engines were initially sent to the scene and two still remain in attendance.

Posting on social media, Appliance Express Ltd said: "We have had a fire at the shop this morning. We are all ok and no one was in the building at the time. We have no access to the telephones or the building at the moment. We'll keep you updated."

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) told the Globe: "On arrival crews found a well-developed fire.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets to tackle the fire, with the main body of the fire suppressed by 10am and fully extinguished by 10.28am.

"Crews are now ventilating the premises and checking for any hot spots."

MFRS told the Globe that the incident is ongoing and people are being asked to avoid the area.