Oxford fire crews lost no time fighting this fire – it happened right on their doorstep.

Smoke from the blaze in a carpet and furniture warehouse in George Street was quickly spotted by Leading Firewoman Kathleen New-bold.

She was on duty alongside Firewoman Jan Watt in the watch room of the fire station across the road.

Firemen who were having a late lunch, after a busy morning of callouts, dropped everything and were on the scene within minutes.

These pictures of the fire, which broke out at lunchtime on February 14, 1965, were taken by John Driskell, of Denton Close, Botley.

The fire caused extensive damage to the building, which was owned by the Oxford & District Co-operative Society.

Mrs Newbold told the Oxford Mail at the time: “First we saw smoke and thought it was coming from some dustbins.

“We rang for the officer in charge to go over and have a look.

“Then I saw a man run up the alley opposite shouting: ‘The Co-op’s on fire’.”

Eventually, 60 firemen were fighting the blaze, including two crews from the Pressed Steel and Morris Motors brigades, who were called in from Cowley to help.

The fire spread rapidly from the southern end of the 80ft-long, four-storey warehouse, in which furniture and carpets were stored.

Considerable damage was also done to the adjoining furniture department by water used to tackle the flames.

But the fire crews managed to stop the flames spreading to other buildings.

It was later discovered that the fire had started on the second floor and spread through a lift shaft to the third and fourth floors.

Crowds of people, attracted by the pall of smoke, which was visible for miles around, watched as firemen fought the flames.

George Street was closed to traffic during the emergency.

The Co-op estimated that stock worth £15,000 had been destroyed.

Photographer Mr Driskell recalls that the fire crews drew water from the canal by the Worcester Street car park to tackle the blaze.