A TOWN centre cafe was forced to close to customers the day after a fire started at the back of a shop.

Firefighters were called out to the Brew Brothers cafe in Kendal after a fire started in the shop’s basement.

Crews spent over an hour and a half at the site after the fire broke out on Tuesday night.

They used a host of specialist equipment at the scene in the operation.

Firefighters said the blaze started in a tumble dryer.

A spokesman from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 21.25pm hours, three fire engines attended a fire at Dowkers Lane, Kendal.

“The fire involved a tumble dryer in the cellar of a commercial property.

“Firefighters used four breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet, a thermal imaging camera, and one positive pressure ventilation unit to extinguish the fire.

“Crews were detained approximately one hour and forty five minutes.”

The shop was closed to customers on Wednesday.

In a post circulated on social media, Brew Brothers said there had been a ‘minor’ fire at the site, in Highgate.

Brew Brothers bosses said: “To all our wonderful customers.

“Unfortunately Brew Brothers will be closed as we had a minor fire at the back of the shop.

“We are unsure how long it will take.

“We will keep you updated.”

Further posts on Facebook revealed the fire was caused by a two-month old washer drier unit that was faulty.

Brew Brothers said that little damage was caused to the kitchen, but there had been some smoke damage that required cleaning up.

The Brew Brothers cafe, which sells a range of food and drinks, opened for business in 2014.