Fire crews are currently dealing with a fire at an apartment block in Southport Town Centre.
Crews from Manchester Road station were called just after 1pm today to reports that a fire had broken out at a flat on Market Street.
OTS understands the fire has occurred inside an apartment block near to the junction with King Street at the rear of the Carlton pub
Appliances remain on scene and traffic is being diverted away.
The road has been closed by police and people are being asked to stay away.
An eye witness told OTS News that smoke from the fire, which appears to have been contained, was initially seen billowing out of a window of a second floor apartment.