Fire crews have dealt with a fire at a Preston takeaway.

Umberto’s on Watery Lane caught fire at 1.29pm on Friday, with lunchtime punters having to be evacuated across the road.

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A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The fire was raging when crews arrived. It had started in the basement and spread through all floors and to the roof.

“There was no one in the building. No rescues. Everyone had left the building before the fire crews arrived on scene.”

The spokesman said there is a flat above the takeaway but this was not occupied at the time of the fire.

He said there was currently no known cause for the fire but it had started in the basement.

“It was a severe fire, but we don’t know the extent of the damage yet. We haven’t asked for a structural engineer to be called out.”

At 2.44pm firefighters were still on the scene checking the fire is completely out and checking vents and other areas of the building.

Photos snapped by Twitter user @Woz_Cuz show smoke billowing over Watery Lane and West Strand junction.

I only wanted some lunch #flamegrilled #umberto pic.twitter.com/H81VpP5Ye5

— Warren (@Woz_Cuz) August 9, 2013

#ISurvivedTheBlaze #ChipShop #Preston #Umbertos pic.twitter.com/mUtEjl2Wds

— Warren (@Woz_Cuz) August 9, 2013

The incident on the Fire and Rescue Service website states two hose reels, four sets of breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera were used to tackle the blaze.

Umberto’s opened in 1973 and is operated by Umberto Frediani. He told the Lancashire Evening Post he had no idea how the fire started.

Mr Frediani’s son Richard, an ITV News producer, tweeted to thank Prestonians for their messages of support:

Thanks for the kind messages after the fire at my parent's shop, Umberto's. The main thing is they and staff were unharmed. The shop not so.

— Richard Frediani (@FredianiITV) August 9, 2013