AN explosion was heard near a restaurant where fire crews were called.

Passers-by reported a large amount of emergency service activity close to the junction of Northgate and Chesnut Street in Darlington on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident was to the rear of the Shapla restaurant in the kitchen area.

One eye-witness said he saw the firefighters coming out of the restaurant before he heard a loud explosion that he believed was gas cannisters in the kitchen.

Police vans blocked the roads around the rear of the building to enable the firefighters to extinguish the fire and bring in the aerial platform to inspect for structural damage.

The firefighters remained on the scene for several hours to ensure the building was safe to enter.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out in due course. It is not known when the restaurant will be re-open for business.