Firefighters battle restaurant blaze

Firefighters fought a blaze in a New Plymouth restaurant overnight.

The Braemer Restaurant and Bar on New Plymouth's main street caught fire just after 2am this morning.

Central Fire Communications Shift Manager Mike Wanoa said the restaurant had been engulfed in flames.

The fire had now been extinguished but fire crews were this morning still working on hot spots.

Four fire appliances and 16 firefighters had attended the blaze.

New Plymouth's Deputy Fire Officer John Nicholls told Radio New Zealand this morning the fire had started in the accommodation part of the hotel, which was behind the restaurant.

The restaurant had been severely damaged and a fire safety officer would be investigating the cause of the blaze.

- NZPA