23 July 2012 Last updated at 03:50 ET

Shops damaged and building collapses in Belfast blaze

BBC Newsline's Julie McCullough reports

A number of shops have been damaged and part of a disused storage building has collapsed during in a fire in north Belfast.

The blaze broke out on the Crumlin Road at about 01:15 BST on Monday and quickly spread to a row of four shops. A Spar shop has been destroyed and a chemist's shop is among those damaged.

The Fire and Rescue Service said seven appliances attended the scene but the fire was now under control.

There are no reports of any injuries.

Group commander Kevin O'Neill of the Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze erupted at the back of the storage premises.

Mr O'Neill said it was too early to establish the cause of the fire.

"It's much too early to determine a cause. The scene is not safe, there are walls that are now unsupported," he said.

"It will take some time for us to be able to carry out a full investigation and find out what the cause was."

It is thought firefighters will be at the scene for several hours.

Traffic disruption is expected on the Crumlin Road.