PEOPLE had to flee a block of flats after a fire broke out in Oxford early on Saturday.

The blaze ripped through the living room of a first-floor flat at Oakthorpe Manor in Oakthorpe Road, Summertown, and the damage was so severe it left a huge crack in an outside wall.

Engineers were called to start repairs over the weekend and try to shore up the property, which was declared structurally unsafe.

Fire crews were called to the scene at 3.11am and one person was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics. An electrical fault is thought to have started the blaze.

Part of Oakthorpe Road was sealed off for most of Saturday and Costa Coffee, the Accent salon and Cannelle Beaute in Oakthorpe Road remained closed all day, for fear the building would collapse. The occupants have been rehoused, or are staying with friends.

Cannelle Beaute marketing manager Emily Lloyd said: "We do not know how long we will be shut because of the wall and it will have an effect on business, but we do have branches in St Ebbe's Street and Henley so hopefully it will not be too bad."

Police were called to the scene by firefighters at 4.30am because of concerns over the safety of the building. Officers then evacuated the building and closed the road to traffic.