Sainsbury’s head office in central London had to be evacuated last night after a fire broke out in the basement.

Staff at the Sainsbury’s Store Support Centre on High Holborn were evacuated shortly before 7pm.

One eyewitness was reported in Retail Week as seeing ”thick white acrid smoke” coming out of the room.

Firecrews were seen entering the basement of the building through a manhole at around 8pm, shortly after which staff were allowed back into the building.

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