Fire starts in council lavatory

About 100 people had to be evacuated from Telford & Wrekin Council's civic offices and last night's full council meeting was abandoned after a fire broke out in an upstairs toilet.

A fire crew from Telford Central was called to the offices at 10.20pm and remained on site for an hour.

Members of Telford & Wrekin Council had set the authority's council tax increase for the forthcoming financial year, but had yet to discuss two motions and a number of questions put forward by councillors.

Nigel Newman, council spokesman, said: "The alarm was raised by a member of staff who saw smoke and a flame coming from a small, electronic, water-saving valve in the first floor men's toilets.

"Staff then used a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher to put this out and as an extra precaution triggered the alarm, which outside office hours automatically calls the fire brigade. The incident caused minimal damage and the toilet will be back in use later today."

Gareth Walker, leading firefighter at Telford Central fire station, said the blaze had been put out by the time the crew arrived.

Mr Walker said a fault had started the fire in an electrical junction in the wall of the toilet.

"It was caused by an electrical fault," he said. "There had been a repair or some work in the area earlier on in the day and it should be fine now."