SEVEN fire engines were deployed to an incident in the centre of Swindon on Thursday night. 

Crews from Dorset and Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire raced to an apartment building in Wellington Street shortly after 9pm.

Six normal fire engines and an aerial appliane were in attendance.

The reason for the large scale deployment is unclear at this stage as there was no immediately apparent fire or smoke at the scene.

Firefighters appeared to be carrying out a thorough search of the building while other appliances waited in surrounding streets.

Residents who came out of their flats to see what was happening were asked to remain outside.

The smoke alarms in the building did not sound and there was no full evacuation.

The mood among residents sitting outside and waiting for the all-clear to return to the building was one of confusion and understandable apprehension.

A spokesman for the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were originally called out due to reports of a smell of burning. 

It was the second time the fire service has responded to the same building this week. 

The first incident is believed to have involved a resident with mental health difficulties attempting to set light to property within the building. Police officers also responded on that occasion and the individual involved is now understood to be receiving help from other agencies.

The two callouts are not thought to be linked.

The first appliances withdrew from the scene at around 10pm and by 10.30pm the all-clear was given and the remaining firefighters left the area.