FIRE crews were called to a ground floor retail fire in Newport this morning (Thursday).

Crews from the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were called to the Friends of the Animals building on Riverway shortly before 1am.

Four appliances from Newport, Cowes and East Cowes attended.

The fire was located within the front of the building, with two breathing apparatus, one hose and a thermal imaging camera used.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "We were called at 12.50am to a ground floor fire at a retail address.

"The stop was called at 1.14am."

Police also attended the scene, with nobody reported to have suffered injury.

The cause of the fire is as yet undetermined.

UPDATE 8.55am: 

A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Police confirmed they will now be investing the incident as arson.

They said: "We were called shortly before 1am with reports of a fire at Friends of the Animals in Newport.

"Upon police attendance, the fire service had extinguished the fire and no-one was injured.

"The incident is being investigated as arson and enquiries are ongoing."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 101, quoting 44200447554.