UPDATE: Fire under control and most cordons removed in Lancaster

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service say they succeeded in bringing the fire at Inspire Health and Fitness in Penny Street under control by 12.30pm, two hours after it started.

Some police cordons remain in place in Peny Street, between Max Spielman and JD Sports, up to the Pandora jewellery shop.

Police say there is still debris in the pedestrian area due to the roof of the three storey building collapsing and the windows exploding outwards.

The fire, which is believed to have started in the sauna in the gym at around 10.15am, caused an evacuation of large parts of the city centre as smoke billowed through the streets.

Fire crews were on the scene within five minutes of the fire starting.

An investigation is now underway into the cause of the fire.