A SPARK from a bonfire is thought to have caused a major blaze which gutted an antiques workshop in the centre of Richmond.

The roof of the three-storey building behind York House collapsed and only the stone walls remain.

But, despite the wreckage behind the premises, it was businesses as usual for the York House Antiques shop.

The fire broke out just after 9pm on Wednesday and crews came from Richmond, Colburn, Reeth, Leyburn, Darlington and Bedale.

Specialist equipment was brought in along with the fire brigade salvage unit and the incident combined unit from Northallerton, taking the number of fire fighters at the scene at the height of the blaze to more than 40.

Richmondshire District Council was also on hand. Fire crews battled to prevent the fire spreading to the rear of the Woolworths store on one side and offices owned by the council on the other.

Residents from flats in York House were also evacuated.

Fire brigade spokesman Ian Hill said "The owners are having a new house built to the rear of the warehouse and workmen have had a fire to dispose of odds and ends.

"It seems an ember has blown on to sheeting covering the windows of the storeroom and ignited the plastic."