A Thai restaurant could be closed for up to six weeks after a fire destroyed its kitchen.

Staff at the Thai Orchid in North Bar, Banbury, raised the alarm when the blaze broke out on Sunday afternoon.

Twelve firefighters tackled the blaze at the restaurant, which was severely damaged.

Restaurant staff living in accommodation above the restaurant escaped when smoke detectors alerted them to fire.

Owner Vichai Karmak- harm said: "The damage was confined to the kitchen because the fire doors were closed."

He said four workers were upstairs at the time but none were hurt.

He added: "They all know what to do in an emergency.

"They called the emergency services and the firefighters arrived very quickly.

"The kitchen was badly burned and could take six weeks to put right."

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire which broke out at about 4.20pm.