A POWER surge could be to blame after fire broke out at a Bradford on Avon newsagents leaving shop owners without electricity.

The fire started in a back room of the Jones' Day and Night store in New Road, at about 9pm on Monday.

Two fire engines from Trowbridge were called to the scene and put out the fire before it spread to the shop floor.

Shop assistant Margaret Bryant was the first to discover the blaze and said there had been a power surge just before it started.

She said: "I went out to the back of the shop to get some stock and saw a billow of black smoke come from under the door. I called the fire brigade then all the power went."

The shop was open the next day with customers having to be guided around with a torch while electricians carried out work.

Shop manager Marie Austin said: "It is still business as usual even though we have no tills or fridges."

Ms Austin said the smoke alarms in the store had been checked regularly but did not go off when the fire started.

Damien Bence, fire community safety officer, praised staff at the shop for leaving the building quickly but warned them a smoke alarm is essential for safety.

He said: "Smoke suffocates quickly and you will die before the flames reach you if you do not have a smoke alarm."

Staff at the store asked customers to bear with them while repair work is underway.