FIRE crews battled to prevent a fire in cars and rubbish from spreading to a block of flats.

The fire, which involved two cars and a bin store, broke out at a premises in Bramford Road this afternoon.

It is understood smoke could be seen from Endeavour House, Suffolk County Council’s headquarters.

The blaze has closed off Bramford Road between its junction with Yarmouth Road and Wellington Street. There were also tailbacks on nearby London Road.

No one was hurt in the blaze, but residents of the flats had to be evacuated.

Damage to the flats was confined to plastic guttering and window surrounds but some residents suffered smoke damage to property because many had windows open in the hot weather.