AN opticians in WGC town centre was evacuated this morning (Friday) after an electrical fire.

Firefighters from WGC fire station rushed to Welwyn Vision, in Howardsgate, just after 9am.

A small crowd gathered and smoke billowed out of the front door as officers entered the store.

Optical assistant Allie Saunders was one of two employees forced to leave the shop.

She told the Welwyn Hatfield Times she noticed the smoke after switching the lights on earlier this morning.

“I thought I had sleep in my eyes!,” she said, on first noticing the fumes.

Firefighters identified that the fire had started in some wiring above an optical display case.

They then used a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear any remaining smoke from the building.

The police also attended the scene.

The store has since re-opened for business.