Fire fighters battled a huge fire that engulfed a stack of wooden pallets next to TFS Wholesalers this evening.

Thick smoke billowed over lower Oldacre and McKenzie Streeta while fire fighters had to cope with the extreme heat.

Two guard dogs, said to be rottweilers, perished in the blaze, on scene security officials said.

The fire attracted a large crowd of rubber neckers.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.