UPDATE: Balti to remain closed after kitchen fire

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service sent six fire engines to the restaurant in St John’s at 3:30am on July 30.

Firefighters battled the flames and smoke for three hours and most of the kitchen extension at the back of the building suffered extensive smoke damage.

Some of the damage extended into the restaurant itself in what management said will leave the business closed for the foreseeable future.

Rahman Minad, the restaurant manager, was informed of the blaze in a call from the police in the morning.

He said: “It’s an extremely difficult time for us.

“We will try to reopen as soon as we can.”

An investigation is now underway to discover the cause of the fire.

James Mackay, who lives opposite the restaurant, said: “The firefighters were still pumping water onto the kitchen at 5:30am.

“It’s a very popular restaurant and I’m sure people will miss it.”

Nobody is thought to have been hurt in the incident.