A TAXI driver has been praised for his quick-thinking after spotting a shop ceiling close to collapse and calling the emergency services.

The late night emergency happened at Chancellors estate agents in Bicester town centre when a water leak caused damage to the shop ceiling.

Bicester Fire Station said the taxi driver in the rank just outside the shop front in Market Square spotted a small part of the ceiling collapsing on June 1 shortly after 12.30am.

In a post on Facebook, Bicester Fire Station said: "Luckily a taxi driver in the taxi rank witnessed a small part of the ceiling collapsing due to the water and called emergency services.

"We were able to force entry to the premises and find the cause and then work to protect the property from any further damage and remove as much water as possible."

"Incidents like this are rare but can happen to anyone – please make sure if you own a business or even your own home you have contacts available such as insurance details and information to help you recover as soon as possible.

"Fortunately the damage in the shop was able to be contained and hopefully help Chancellors get back to normal in a short space of time."

The shop reopened as usual the following day.