UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Hundreds of shoppers have been evacuated from Tesco Extra in Ryde this evening (Monday).
The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to the presence of smoke in the store, off of Brading Road, shortly before 19:55.
Three pumping appliances from East Cowes, Ryde and Newport are in attendance with crews using a thermal imaging camera to search for hotspots in the building to rule out any source of fire.
UPDATE @ 20:40 – Firefighters are now using a step ladder and a pole having located what they believe to be the source of the alert.
UPDATE @ 20:45 – Staff and shoppers have been allowed to return back inside the supermarket, where normal service has resumed.
Fire crews are now leaving the scene and returning to station.
UPDATE @ 21:15 – Island Echo understand that smoke was seen to be coming from a freezer unit towards the rear of the store, sparking the alarm and fire response however firefighters have been unable to confirm the source of the incident.
As a token of appreciation, firefighters have been given a tin of chocolates, donated by Tesco.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
