Firefighters raced to Thai red light district Soi Cowboy this morning (Sun) after a fire ripped through a bar.

Flames broke out in the stage area of the Country Road music and pool pub and set off smoke alarms at around 11.45am.

Shocked tourists at the bustling area in downtown Bangkok looked on as smoke filled the notorious street which by night is full of hundreds of bikini clad women.

Firefighters with breathing equipment rushed into the building and fought through flames to extinguish the blaze.

Pictures from inside the venue showed a blackened wall next to several air condition units. Police are now investigating what caused the blaze at one of the capital's busiest bars.

A spokesman from the Rama Radio Centre 199 rescue service said: ''At 11.45am the smoke detector notified the staff at the fire station Khlong Toei.

''Crews contained the fire and brought it under control. All is calm now. The police are investigating the scene. The fire brigade is assisting with the review of the scene.''

Revellers reacted with shock to the fire at the bar in one of the world's oldest and most well stretch of strip clubs.