Abingdon's High Street was temporarily closed to traffic today after fire broke out in one of the town's oldest businesses.

The alarm was raised by members of the public shortly before 6am when smoke was seen coming from Bragg's Cycles near County Hall.

Two fire crews from Abingdon arrived within minutes and police set up traffic diversions.

Firefighters believe the problem was sparked by an overheated spotlight in the ground-floor showroom, which led to smouldering in the laths and plaster facade of the 300-year-old building.

A window was smashed and stock, including three children's tricycles, was badly damaged.

The shop and two upper floors were also damaged by smoke. An adjoining flat and Touchwood Sports next door were also affected.

Bragg's shop manager Andrew Fearnside, 26 -- great-grandson of the founder of the 90-year-old business -- was evacuated from the flat next door together with his partner, Kate Merritt, and their daughter Jade, one.

"We believe it was the spotlight which is left on in the shop all night," he said.

"The first I knew was when our fire alarm people rang me to tell me there was a problem."

Firefighters, led by Station Officer Doug Minter, wore breathing sets while they isolated the faulty light and stripped smouldering cladding from the outer wall.

Sub-officer Bob Paterson said: "It's quite fortunate it happened when it did. If it had been much earlier, it could have been much worse."

Braggs Cycles is the oldest business in Abingdon and celebrates its 90th birthday in March. It was started as a general shop in 1912 by Harry Bragg. In the 1920s, it began selling motor-cycles and later concentrated on cycles. It remains a family business.

The 18th-century listed shop in the heart of the town is a rambling building with a series of rooms on the ground and upper floors. It is planned to move the business to new premises later this year.

This morning staff were clearing up and said they hoped to be open for business again tomorrow.