A local security guard alerted emergency services to the blaze at 2.25am this morning, but when fire fighters arrived at the St Helens Village Store at 2.31am, the fire had engulfed the rear of the building.

Fire crews from both St Helens and Scamander attended the call out, saving adjoining businesses and containing the fire to the store.

Fire investigators are currently at the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

Ray Reilly, who has live in St Helens for 74 years, said the devastation will have an effect on the community as the business was always full of people.