NEARBY properties have been evacuated and a safety cordon has been set up around a serious blaze in Winsford this afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to the scene in Abbotts Way shortly after 1.30pm.

Six fire engines, from Winsford, Holmes Chapel, Chester, Northwich, Crewe and Sandbach are in attendance alongsde the aerial ladder platform.

Paramedics are in attendance at the incident and are treating four casualties, whose injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Police are also in attendance and have closed a number of roads in the area including Aston Avenue, Nixon Drive and Saxon Crossway.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed the fire involves a house and two flats.

He said: "Firefighters are currently at the scene of fire involving a house and two flats in Winsford that has spread to nearby properties.

Northwich Guardian: The properties damaged in the fireThe properties damaged in the fire (Image: Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service)

"Six fire engines are currently at the scene and crews are using a hose reel and a main jet to extinguish the fire.

"A cordon has been set up for safety and crews are currently using ground monitors to get large amounts of water to the fire.

"Police are in attendance and nearby properties have been evacuated. The aerial ladder is also being used at this incident.

"Nearby residents are asked to close windows and doors as a precaution and people are advised to avoid the area while this incident is being dealt with."

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "At around 1.40pm today, Wednesday, March 22, emergency services were called to reports of a large fire at an address on Abbotts Way, Winsford.

"Police and fire attended the scene and on arrival the property was well alight.

"Firefighters are working hard to tackle the fire and a number of roads in the area are closed, these include Abbotts Way, Nixon Drive and Aston Avenue.

"A number of properties in the area have been evacuated and a temporary shelter has been set up at the New Images Youth Centre for residents affected.

Northwich Guardian: There is a lot of smoke in the area and residents have been advised to close windows and doorsThere is a lot of smoke in the area and residents have been advised to close windows and doors (Image: G Cawley)

"Four people have been injured as a result of the incident, their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

"The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage."