RESIDENTS of a Poole care home had to be evacuated this afternoon after a freezer fire broke out in the kitchen.

The blaze, attended by 20 firefighters, took place at The Laurels and Pine Lodge residential care home for the elderly in Foxholes Road, Oakdale.

One elderly resident was treated by paramedics as a precaution. The freezer has been destroyed.

The alarm was raised at 3.30pm after the fire was discovered in the ground floor kitchen.

Four crews from Poole, Westbourne, Redhill and Ferndown were at the scene for around an hour.
A fire investigation officer has now arrived to determine the cause.

The owners and staff evacuated residents where necessary while the fire was dealt with.

Yellow Buses have tweeted that their 18 and 26 services are experiencing delays due to a diversion. 

The Dale Valley Road service is also unable to serve the Dorchester Road stop and the stop prior to the fish and chip shop in Ringwood Road.

The 3.15pm number 18 service from the town centre to Broadstone was also stuck in the road closure and was unable to turn, but is now continuing on its route.