Demolition work has begun after firefighters extinguished a "large fire" at a derelict building in Stoke-on-Trent city centre.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 12.40am yesterday (Thursday 9 July) to Stafford Street in Hanley following reports of a fire on the first floor of a building.

The fire has been extinguished and crews remain at the scene today (Friday 10 July) to monitor and dampen down hotspots.

Officials from Stoke-on-Trent City Council also attended the scene as demolition work began.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "A further multi-agency meeting will take place tomorrow once demolition has been carried out.

"Next steps will then be agreed over plans to carry out a search of the building."

Foundry Street has reopened but a section of Stafford Street, around Leek Building Society, and the top of Trinity Street remains closed.

A total of six crews and two aerial ladder platforms attended the fire, at its peak, along with a fire command vehicle.

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The aerial ladder platforms were used to remove roof tiles from the building to allow firefighters to tackle the blaze.

The fire service added that an investigation into the cause of the fire will take place "in due course".

Firefighters extinguished a large fire at a derelict building in Hanley (image via Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service)