PART of Bournemouth town centre was closed for two hours after an underground electrical fire.

Dingles, the Arcade on Old Christchurch Road, and shops nearby were evacuated at around 11.30am.

Electrical workers and firemen checked the damage in a smoke filled basement, and tested the cabling, and the Arcade and Dingles were both open by 1.30pm.

However several shops on Gervis Place were still shut, including SpaceNK and Steamer Trading, which were either side of a doorway leading to the affected basement.

Workmen at the site said the power cable was still broken and that part of the pavement may need digging up to repair it.