A FIRE broke out in a coffee shop in Paya Lebar Road early on Friday morning, damaging a few stalls.

The owner of the coffee shop, Mr Chen Shui Shu, rushed to the scene after he was alerted by some friends. They happened to be passing by when they spotted smoke billowing from the place at about 2 am.

Mr Chen, 49, said: 'When I arrived, the firemen were already putting out the flames. I was very afraid...I could only watch from afar.'

Foreign workers living on the second floor of the building rushed out from their quarters after smelling the smoke.

No one was hurt in the fire, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said, adding that the blaze started from one stall and spread to the neighbouring units.

According to Shin Min Daily, Mr Chen estimated his losses at more than $170,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.