A DAY nursery in Oxfordshire that is located next to a Grade I listed church is on fire.

Concerned passers-by shared horrifying photos of a building located next to St Mary's Church in Banbury up in flames.

They show a property on Horse Fair, which is believed to be Smart Tots Day Nursery and Pre-School, up in flames.

Oxford Mail:

According to a Facebook post by the Leamington Fire Station said: "Tonight, Leamington's crew are assisting our Thames Valley colleagues at a fire on 25 Horsefair, Banbury.

"Fire is located on the third floor of a nursery and Banbury crews have requested our turntable ladder crew to assist with removing roof tiles and extinguishing parts of the building that cannot be reached from inside."

One worried resident Ysabelle Mason posted about the blaze on the Facebook group just before 7pm: "I have been stood across the road, they have been amazing.

"About eight fire trucks at the moment and two police vehicles."

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Another local Dawn Pickard said: "It is the nursery but the staff did a great job tonight getting all the kids out safely and without distress keeping them safe until we could collect them.

"Hats off to them, managing to do that calmly and safely is an impressive feat."

Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Services have been contacted for a comment.