A YORK catalogue store was sealed off after firefighters were called to put out a blaze at a notorious drug den.

Two fire appliances and half-a-dozen firefighters tackled a fire near the back of the Index shop at Lady Peckitt's Yard at about 12.40pm yesterday.

The blaze, which was close to the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, was underneath a wooden bike shelter, which had to be doused with water.

The firefighters managed to stop the fire spreading, but their efforts were hampered by a number of drug needles, which were forced into the street by the high-powered jets.

Fire crews sealed off the Index store while they made sure that the blaze, in wooden pallets and cardboard, was controlled and would not start again.

A fire service spokeswoman said the blaze was caused by a rubbish fire that had got out of hand and spread to a roof canopy.

Updated: 10:26 Tuesday, January 18, 2005