The main street through Midleton, Co Cork remained partly closed to traffic on Wednesday morning as emergency services cleaned up after a serious fire.
The blaze at the Post Office on Main Street was spotted by a member of the public at 1.35am this morning and they raised the alarm.
Three units of Cork County Fire Service rushed to the scene from stations in Midleton and Cobh. The fire extensively damaged the town's post office and there were fears that it could spread to other buildings.
The Fire Service battled for several hours to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from jumping to neighbouring buildings. The roof of the premises partially collapsed as the flames were seen coming through the timbers.
The Fire Service has remained at the scene through the night and into this morning, with an examination of the premises due after the final safety checks have been made to discover the cause of the fire.
Structural experts will also examine the stability of the old building which was completely gutted by the blaze.
The Main Street through the town - the R907 - remains closed to traffic heading north through Midleton as emergency services maintain a safe perimeter around the badly damaged building.
One lane on Main Street does, however, remain open. Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible as there will be significant delays.
