NOT since Walt Disney's Finding Nemo has a fish made such a daring escape.

In the 2003 animated film, Nemo, a plucky young clownfish, evades a dentist's aquarium with all the skill of Steve McQueen in the Great Escape.

And in Poole, on Friday, another plucky clownfish beat the odds to survive a pet shop blaze by leaping to safety through the flames.

John Threadgold, of Fleetsbridge's Southern Aquatics and Pets store, explained: "The staff members and firefighters were trying to rescue as many fish as we could.

"There was a tank which was damaged but had about an inch of water at the bottom under the main tank that had completely shattered.

"Four of our clownfish were at the bottom dead, but this little guy, who fell through the flames from the top tank, was still going strong."

John, who conceded the little swimmer was one lucky fish, added: "We quickly moved him and he now looks to have made a full recovery."

Unfortunately a number of marine fish were killed in the blaze, which started in a tropical fish chiller, and several thousands of pounds' worth of purpose-built equipment was destroyed.

John said: "These particular fish are called clownfish because they have an odd way of swimming, they appear to be clowning around.

"We tend to call all of our clownfish Nemo since the film."

Firefighters from Poole's new Marshes End station tackled the 9am blaze and carried a selection of parrots, rats and chipmunks to safety.

All of the store's extensive range of reptiles survived the drama.

Manager Andrew Battison said: "It could have been awful. If it had happened in the middle of the night, the building could have been destroyed and all the animals killed."

The store, in NorthMead Drive, is now open for business as usual.