No casualties have been reported in a blaze at a paintball centre where it was feared two people were trapped inside.

Crews were called at about 5pm on Monday to the Desert Storm paintball site in Borough Road, St Helens, Merseyside, where they found the building alight.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said it had reports of two people entering the building who have yet to come out.

As more than six engines fought the fire, part of the roof collapsed and a large number of tyres burned, causing a huge plume of smoke to rise into the sky

The fire at the centre, currently not in use, was mostly extinguished four hours later but no-one was found inside and no reports of missing persons have been received by police.

On Tuesday, a fire service spokesman said: “Firefighters continued to fight the fire through the evening and right through the night.

“Hotspotting and damping down has continued throughout the night and into this morning to ensure the fire is completely out.

“There have been no casualties reported. The cause of the fire is not yet known.”