These pictures from our archive show the dramatic moments as firefighters tackle a blaze at a Watford electrical store – but they also bring back memories of how this part of the town centre looked around 40 years ago.

Ketts was holding its ‘super summer sale’ in July 1982 but this was interrupted by a fire which attracted a crowd of onlookers who were kept at safe distance by a policeman.

The electrical store was located on the corner of Queen's Road at its junction with High Street, at what is now the main entrance to the atria shopping centre.

Watford Observer: Firefighters with breathing apparatus.Firefighters with breathing apparatus. (Image: Watford Observer)

Scroll through these images taken by the Watford Observer’s photograph and you will see other well-known high street names of the time that plenty of you will remember – the onlookers are gathered outside Littlewoods, with a sign for Habitat clearly in view, while across the road from Ketts was a branch of Woolworths.

Watford Observer: A firefighters running towards the building.A firefighters running towards the building. (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: The view from Queen's Road as smoke can clearly be seen rising from underneath the shop.The view from Queen's Road as smoke can clearly be seen rising from underneath the shop. (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: The Woolworths store sign can be seen in the background.The Woolworths store sign can be seen in the background. (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus walk past a window display of vacuum cleaners and a microwave. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus walk past a window display of vacuum cleaners and a microwave. (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: Was the source of the fire beneath the window?Was the source of the fire beneath the window? (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: The firefighters in conversation.The firefighters in conversation. (Image: Watford Observer)