Wellington cafe damaged by fire

It is believed a fire in a Wellington cafe overnight was caused by an electrical fault behind a microwave oven.

Firefighters have been dampening down the blaze which engulfed the Emporio Cafe in the new Chews Lane complex between Victoria and Willis Sts at 3.20am.

A Fire Service spokesman says the building is not gutted but it is uninhabitable.

New Zealand Transport Agency staff whose offices are directly above the cafe, have been told they will not be able to go to work this morning because of smoke damage.

Earlier this year, the developers of the Chews Lane precinct won an award for work updating heritage buildings in the area.

The precinct comprises food outlets, retail, offices and apartments.

- NEWSTALK ZB