A SHOE store in Summertown will be closed for Christmas after being hit by extensive fire damage.

A blaze on Friday, believed to be started in a fuse box, caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the Charles Clinkard store in Banbury Road.

The clean-up operation has begun but the company said the shop would likely be closed at least until the new year.

A spokesman for Charles Clinkard said: “Staff made sure that customers were evacuated from the store within seconds of the alarm being raised on Friday.

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“We are thankful no-one was injured and would like to thank the members of the emergency services for their swift response.

“We have already begun the clean-up but don’t envisage re-opening until early in the new year.”

The shop is likely to miss out on thousands of pounds worth of revenue from sales in the run-up to Christmas.

Two fire engines attended after being called at 1.25pm and remained on the scene until 5.36pm.

A store statement confirmed three members of staff were working at the time and escaped without injury.