Fire crews from across the city were called to put out the blaze at CC Multicultural Supermarket and halal meat centre at the Din Buildings in Chapeltown.

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Residents of eight flats above the premises on Chapeltown Road had to flee their homes shortly after 5am.

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Residents spotted smoke and flames and raised the alarm.

Extensive damage was caused to the store after flames spread across the ceiling and set fire to stock.

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Firefighters from Moortown, Gipton, Hunslet and surrounding stations had to use breathing equipment to tackle the fire.

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They spent three hours at the scene making the two-storey building safe.
No one was injured.

The building was cordoned off, along with the street at the back of the supermarket, and guarded by Police Community Support Officers throughout the day.

Shop owner, Mohammed Rashid, who also owns another store on Roundhay Road, said fire investigators were still trying to establish the cause of the blaze.

He said: "I don't think anyone would have done this deliberately. It looks as though there has been an electrical fault.

"I have had this shop for 30 years and never had any trouble. I don't know how long I'm going to be closed for but want to get the shop open as quickly as possible because a lot of customers rely on us."

West Yorkshire Fire Service confirmed the incident was being treated as an accident but the cause of the fire had yet to be established.