SHOPS including Sainsbury's were evacuated for almost an hour this morning after a fire in a multi-storey car park. 

Customers had to ditch their shopping and leave the Bicester Superstore in Pioneer Square at 9.45am, filing out onto the street as firefighters arrived.

Oxford Mail:

Oxford Mail:

Pictures: Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has now confirmed details of what happened, and said there had been a car fire on the first floor of the Sainsbury's car park.

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A photo shared by the service, below, showed the molten remains of the engine and the bonnet completely destroyed.

Oxford Mail:

Posting on Facebook, firefighters said: "On arrival crews worked quickly with staff to evacuate the car park area and extinguish the fire, which was spreading to the rest of the vehicle, using breathing apparatus and hose reels.

"The car park and stores in the main part of Pioneer Square were closed for around an hour while the incident was dealt with.

"The site is fully open now and trading normally."

Oxford Mail:

Reader image of people waiting outside Sainsbury's

A video sent to the Oxford Mail showed crowds of people hanging around outside while the fire alarm sounded in the background. 

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A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: "Our Bicester store was temporarily closed for a short time but is back open for customers. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused."