EMERGENCY services were called to an incident in Earlestown after a takeaway went up in flames.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were called to Bridge Street, at around 3.40pm this afternoon, Saturday.

Two fire engines arrived to find Milano takeaway on fire and four firefighters worked to extinguish it.

Roads were closed and nearby buildings were evacuated by officers from Merseyside Police, who were also at the scene.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service told the Star: “Crews were called to a take-away restaurant on Bridge Street, Newton-Le Willows this afternoon.

“Crews were alerted at 2.35pm and on scene at 2.39pm, with two fire engines in attendance.

“Crews arrived to find a takeaway restaurant well alight. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the two-storey building under rapid deployment and fought the fire on the ground floor with a hose reel jet.

“Merseyside Police closed the road and evacuated adjoining buildings.

“A further two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were committed to the fire making four in total fighting the fire with two hose reel jets.

“The first floor was also searched and firefighters carried out ventilation of the smoke-logged area with industrial electric fans.

“The fire was extinguished by 3pm with no reported casualties.

“Firefighters checked for any fire spread before handing over to the owner of the building and leaving the scene at 4.17pm.”