THE Kendal branch of fast food outlet KFC remains closed following a fire.

A notice on the door of the restaurant, at Stricklandgate, apologises for any inconvenience and says the premesis is closed for health and safety reasons. It adds it will open again 'as soon as possible'.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service sent two fire engines to the blaze having been called just before midnight on Sunday, after two police officers had attempted to tackle the flames with a fire extinguisher.

Kendal Fire Station Manager Conrad Leather said it looked as though the fire had been started accidentally outside the restaurant and had spread indoors, and that KFC was ‘lucky’ that it had mainly been limited to heat and smoke damage.

It is the second time in recent weeks that customers have been denied their favourite meals, with the Kendal branch being caught up in the widespread lack of chicken which affected hundreds of restaurants up and down the country last month.

The Westmorland Gazette has contacted KFC for more information and awaits a response.