TWO CITY centre shops have been cordoned off tonight as emergency services deal with an incident.

Prominence Property and the restaurant Jade in Western Road, Brighton are currently closed.

Police on the scene said they were helping the fire service deal with an incident.

The Argus:

Nearby flats have been evacuated.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "At 8pm, firefighters from Brighton, Roedean, Hove and Lewes attended a restaurant on Western Road, Hove following reports of a basement fire.

"Crews used six Breathing Apparatus and two Hose Reel Jets to extinguish the fire. Residential flats above the restaurant were evacuated as a precaution.

"A Fire Investigation took place and the cause was deemed to be faulty electrics.

"Crews left the scene at 10pm."