Mepal crematorium evacuated as firefighters called to smoke

Firefighters were called to Lake View Bereavement Centre in Mepal <i>(Image: Supplied)</i>
Firefighters were called to Lake View Bereavement Centre in Mepal (Image: Supplied)
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A new crematorium in Cambridgeshire has been evacuated just weeks after it opened to the public for the first time.

Firefighters from Ely and March were called to Lake View Bereavement Centre on Chatteris Road, in Mepal, at 9.52am on Friday (September 25).

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed crews arrived "to find smoke issuing from a building."

"They cleared the smoke using a positive pressure ventilation fan and left the building with the site management team," a spokesperson said.

"The building was safely evacuated before the crews arrived.

"The crews returned to their stations by 11.30am."

The county's newest crematorium opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by nearly 200 guests on September 10.

The £13million facility stands on the former Mepal Outdoor Centre, which lay derelict for years.

The project was funded by developer contributions, including Community Infrastructure Levy, rather than taxpayers.

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