Blaze hits motorway service station

Fire crews were tackling a blaze at a motorway service station today.

Ten pumps were sent to Cherwell Valley Services, near Bicester, Oxfordshire.

An Oxfordshire fire service spokesman said the blaze was thought to have started in a "plant room".

The blaze, off the M40, was being treated as "major", Thames Valley Police said.

There were no initial reports of casualties and buildings on the site, including a petrol station, hotel and restaurant, had been evacuated, a police spokesman said.

"The fire service is dealing with a major fire and we are there to assist," he added.

"There are no road closures in place but there is heavy traffic in the area.

"All staff and customers have been successfully evacuated from the service area. There were no initial reports of casualties."

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service said it was not thought anyone was inside the building at the centre of the blaze.