EARLY morning exercisers at the Fitness First health club in St Albans had a rude shock on Wednesday, July 3, when a television hanging from the ceiling burst into flames.

Overnight rain had leaked through the roof of the new club in Christopher Place, and caused a TV set in the main exercise room to short circuit.

An alarm sounded at 7.30am, and a crew from St Albans fire station raced to the scene, but a member of staff had put out the burning set with an extinguisher.

Firefighter Keith Dean said: "He did a very good job."

July 4, 2002 11:30