A city smokehouse lost three days worth of meat after its smoker was hosed down by fire fighters.

Emergency services were called to Newmarket Road in Norwich at around 7.45am on Wednesday after a member of the public spotted smoke coming from a garden.

Despite the source being a meat smoker, fire crews from Earlham, Carrow and Sprowston proceeded to hose it down.

Andy Cooper, co-owner of the Harbecue Smoke House, said: 'It had actually overheated, but I don't think people knew it was a smoker.

'It was in our pit master's garden and I think he was a bit surprised by it all. Unfortunately all of the meat that was in there was ruined.'

Mr Cooper said the restaurant's pit master, Rob Harber, had been up since 6am preparing the food.

It is usually then left in a smoker for 12 to 17 hours before it is ready to be served.

Mr Cooper added: 'It is a bit of an inconvenience, but luckily we had some meat already smoked and we will be able to stay open.'

The fire service said it used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames.