Emergency services rushed to a well-known Reading laundrette after one of their industrial tumble dryers burst into flames.

The incident occurred around 5:39pm on Tuesday, October 29 at The Washbox Laundrette and Cleaning Services on Erleigh Road.

Crews from Wokingham Road, Caversham Road and Whitley Road fire stations were sent to the scene.

One Reading resident, who contacted the Chronicle stated that the alleged cause of the fire was ‘poor maintenance of the machines'.

Despite rumours that the fire alarms were not working in the building, owners have stated that the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue have records that show that the ‘fire detectors did indeed go off’.

Residents of flats above the Washbox were evacuated as fire crews dealt with the blaze on the ground floor shop.

The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue sent two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus into the building to extinguish the fire.

They said: "Crews ventilated the area and isolated the electrics, ensuring the premises was safe."

The Reading resident added: “This was so dangerous, the gas lines run along the back of the machines. It could have been so much worse.”

The Chronicle contacted the Washbox for comment.

The owner, Mosh said: “Since the incident, the fire department have been out and the business is up and running again.”