FIREfighters tackling a supermarket blaze were hampered when sub-zero temperatures froze water from their hoses.

More than 40 firefighters fought to control the blaze at the Co-op supermarket in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

A flat roof at the rear of the store was destroyed in the blaze.

The fire start at about 8.30am while contractors were working on the roof.

Staff, shoppers and contractors were evacuated. Nobody was injured. Fire crews from Leyburn, Reeth, Richmond, Colburn, Northallerton and Masham attended the blaze.

Tom Norwood, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager, said: "The roof will have to be pulled down and replaced. It was an awkward fire because it's an old building in the middle of a market square and difficult to get to.

"We were fighting the fire from above and below."

Firefighters said the wintery temperatures caused an added problem when the water sprayed from their hoses froze on the ground making conditions treacherous.

The main road through Leyburn market place was closed.

Witness Robert Ford, 25, said: "There wasn't a lot to see at first, it looked like a chimney fire.

"Then all of a sudden a huge bellow of black smoke went up. I couldn't see any flames."

The store is being refurbished and was due to close for a fortnight early next month.

A Co-op spokesman said: "We are pleased no customers, staff or external contractors have been hurt in this incident.

"The store has suffered some smoke and water damage and will, therefore, remain closed while the damage is fully assessed and work begins to rectify the damage.

"Our prime concern is to ensure that disruption to customers will be kept to a minimum and, as such, a free bus shuttle service will be available daily, starting today, from outside the front of the store to the Co-operative store at Bedale."

The bus timetable will be displayed on a notice board outside the store.

The spokesman added: "To compensate for the inconvenience to our many loyal customers in the town, money-off vouchers will be available for customers to use at the Bedale store."

A roofing contractor who had been working on the roof when the blaze started said he was not sure how the fire started.