A Liss man began a night out in Petersfield by raising the alarm about the town’s biggest fire for years to shop staff and emergency services.

Justin Flynn believes he was the first person to call 999 about the fire which devastated a corner of Lavant Street last Thursday evening.

He also claimed that he and a friend tipped off House of Boo staff about the blaze above them, as he noticed smoke pouring from the roof and chimney on a walk from Petersfield station into the town with three friends.

He said: “They didn’t know anything about it when I opened the front door and told them there’s a fire above them – after that I called 999. I’m sure I was the first.”