PEOPLE have been advised to avoid A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital this evening if possible - after a fire in an electrical switch room.

The fire has disrupted the hospital scanning and x-ray systems at both the Royal, and the Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, according to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The trust said the problem was "having a significant impact on our Emergency Departments this evening and we would ask for your support in using alternatives to A&E where it is safe for you to do so."

The trust said it would prioritise patients who need urgent care - and suggested people use minor injuries units and call NHS 111 instead.

In a post the trust shared on Facebook, it said: "Scanning and x-ray systems at both the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals have been disrupted by a fire in an electrical switch room.

"This is having a significant impact on our Emergency Departments this evening and we would ask for your support in using alternatives to A&E where it is safe for you to do so - including Minor Injuries Units and NHS 111.

"Patients in need of urgent care will still be seen as a priority.

"We have a team of engineers working to resolve the problem and will issue further updates when we have more information."

The trust said it would issue an update later tonight - but it was hoping the problem would not impact on appointments tomorrow.