Around 50 fire fighters were called to tackle a blaze at Lime Kiln leisure centre in Wootton Bassett this morning.

Some neighbouring homes were evacuated and other residents were told to stay indoors as plumes of colour changing smoke poured out of the building.

The fire started near the leisure centre's sauna and jacuzzi area at 10.30am and officers are not treating it as suspicious at this time.

Eleven fire engines from across North Wiltshire were called to the scene including other support vehicles and ambulances.

Wiltshire's Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Routh-Jones said the building's complex architecture made tackling the blaze more difficult.

He said: "The fire started in the central part of the building where the sauna and jacuzzi and some offices are.

"It got up into the ceiling and roof area which is quite a complicated structure.

"There was a significant amount of fire in a confined area.

"We have been able to knock down the main part of the fire and we're now checking the rest of the building.

"The investigation team will be looking into how it started but we don't believe it is suspicious at this stage.

"The sauna and jacuzzi area does have a lot of electrics going in and out there so it could have been related to that."

He added that smoke had travelled throughout the building and may have caused more damage than the flames.

He said: "We are working to ventilate the building and clear the smoke.

"Often with these cases the smoke is what causes most of the damage.

"At first the smoke was of an unknown nature and changing colour on a regular basis so we checked on the neighbouring houses and evacuated where we could.

"Others we advised to stay indoors with the windows shut."

Despite the overnight snowfall and questionable roads in North Wiltshire all the fire engines arrived unscathed.

Mr Routh-Jones said: "We have experienced drivers and they made sure they took precautions."

Despite the prospect of soaking wet swimmers being forced to stand around in the snow following the evacuation Mr Routh-Jones confirmed that only a few evacuees were forced to come out with shorts on.

Wiltshire councillor for North Wootton Bassett Bill Roberts said the fire at Lime Kiln leisure centre this morning was a devastating blow to the community which is attempting to save the centre from closure.

Unless a community group can be found to run Lime Kiln it is set to be closed in 2015.

Speaking on Saturday Coun Roberts said: "I found out the terrible news this morning.

"It's a devastating blow considering we fought so hard to save the place four years ago and the current political situation at the moment.

"There were clouds of smoke billowing out of the building.

"It seemed like half of the Wiltshire Fire Service were in Wootton Bassett today."

He added: "There are so many schools in the town and surrounding villages which use the centre so it would be absolutely devastating if it closed."

With funding already tight Coun Roberts hopes the leisure centre's insurance policy will be able to pay for the damage.

He added: "Hopefully this will bring the community together."