A FIRE ripped through Caffe Piccolo in West Street, Farnham, overnight, causing severe damage to the popular family-run Italian restaurant.

Around 45 firefighters and eight fire appliances from across Surrey and Hampshire attended the incident, which was reported at around 5am on Wednesday morning.

It is believed the fire started in the restaurant’s kitchen, although the cause is still unknown.

Caffe Piccolo has been run independently by owner Darius Ahmadi and his family since 1995. It employs around ten members of staff.

No one was in the restaurant at the time of the blaze, neighbouring homes were not affected, and nobody was injured.

West Street remained closed as of 8.45am on Wednesday.