A SECTION of Merry Hill shopping centre was evacuated this afternoon (Tuesday February 24) due to a fire.

West Midlands Fire Service was alerted to an incident at the Brierley Hill complex at 1.01pm after a small blaze started in a first floor laundry room at Tranquil Spa.

Two crews from the towns fire station were quickly on the scene to extinguish the flames using a hose reel jet.

Crews are currently using large ventilation fans to remove the smoke from the area.

The organisation which runs the centre, intu Merry Hill, tweeted: "We can confirm that due to a fire at Tranquil Spa, there has been a partial evac. The rest of the centre is open as usual."

"The shopping centre is now open as usual. Only the affected unit itself is closed."

More information to follow.