Couple die, 34 hurt in store blaze

An elderly couple died and 34 people were injured yesterday in a fire at a department store.

Police said the blaze at Littlewoods in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was 'a tragic accident' and condemned hoax callers claiming devices had been planted elsewhere in the town.

The fire spread through the first-floor cafeteria area. Shoppers climbed on to window ledges and were rescued by firefighters, but an elderly couple were unable to escape.

Most of the injured were suffering from smoke inhalation, but 10 were detained in Chesterfield Royal Hospital and one was described as serious. The names of the victims were withheld until relatives had been informed.

The town centre was sealed off during the fire, which started just before 10am. Police received four calls saying devices had been planted in the town. Three were hoaxes.

Littlewoods said last night there were no sprinklers in the store. Police said an investigation had confirmed an electrical fault caused the fire.