Elaine MaslinA Dereham night club owner says he hopes to re-open by the weekend after a fire broke out in building early this morning morning. Three fire crews were called to The Lounge, in Norwich Street, after a member of the public spotted the fire alarm sounding at about 12.Elaine Maslin

A Dereham night club owner says he hopes to re-open by the weekend after a fire broke out in building early this morning morning.

Three fire crews were called to The Lounge, in Norwich Street, after a member of the public spotted the fire alarm sounding at about 12.30am.

It is thought an electrical fault in an extractor fan or light fitting caused the fire which damaged the mens' toilets.

The building was left with exterior damage as the fire burned through and fire fighters pulled off cladding to make sure it had not spread through the walls.

Chris Mooney, licensee of the night club, said it was lucky that a member of the public, thought to have been a woman out walking with a pram, had spotted the fire.

'At least it was put out before it spread,' he said.

The club was closed at the time as it does not open on Sunday nights. Mr Mooney was woken at home at about 1am by the police who wanted keys to the building so they could get in.

But by the time he got there the fire fighters had already got inside to tackle the fire.

Four firemen using breathing apparatus tackled the fire, removing cladding and using a thermal imaging camera to check for any fire left.

Mr Mooney is now working with his insurance company to get the damage repaired and get The Lounge open again as soon as possible.