A gym in Old Town is currently closed and cordoned off following a roof fire.

Red tape surrounds Anytime Fitness on Hoopers Place and there is a smaller cordon around a separate pile of charred debris.

A smell of smoke lingers in the air and scorch marks can be seen around the edges of the roof.

Blue and grey sheets cover sections where roof tiles broke during the blaze, and more damage can be seen from behind the building, where the scorched framework of the loft is exposed and bits of debris litter the ground.

The interior of the building does not seem to have been badly affected by the fire as gym equipment near the windows appears to be undamaged.

The footpath outside the gym is closed to pedestrians but the Subway next door is open for business as usual.

Approximately 50 firefighters fought the flames after 10 fire engines from central Swindon, Westlea, Stratton, Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, Chippenham, and Devizes responded to calls from the gym at 7.16pm on Wednesday evening.

A DWFRS spokesperson said at the time: “Crews are using hose reels, breathing apparatus and main lines to bring the fire under control.

“The aerial ladder platform from Swindon is also in attendance at this incident and is being used to strip roof tiles and ascertain fire spread.

”We are working with colleagues from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue and Wiltshire Police to deal with this incident. 

“Local residents are being asked to keep windows and doors closed. People are being asked to avoid the area.”

One eyewitness reported smoke billowing from the top two windows.

A Swindon Borough Council officer mentioned at the time that the building had not suffered structural damage.

The fire was extinguished by 9.05pm and the incident was then scaled down to involve four fire engines and 20 firefighters, who left the scene by 12.27am on Thursday morning.

A fire investigation is now underway.

An Anytime Fitness spokesperson said: "Due to emergency circumstances the club is shut for the foreseeable.

"We will make sure to keep you updated.

"Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause."

Some people were briefly stranded at the scene as their cars are blocked in Britannia Place car park by fire response vehicles.