Original recordings of songs by Bill Crosby and Judy Garland have escaped the fire that ripped through much of Universal Studios in Los Angeles last weekend.

It had initially been feared that "thousands of original recording masters" were lost in the fire, which began on Sunday (June 1st).

"We had no loss, thankfully," a Universal spokesman told Billboard. "We moved most of what was stored there earlier this year to our other facilities."

The spokesman added that, of the small amount of recordings still there, many had already been digitalised.

"Moreover, in addition to being digitised, we also had physical back up copies of what was still left at that location, so we were covered,” he added.

Extensive damage was caused to much of the property, including the courthouse square from Back to the Future and an exhibit which feature a mechanical King Kong.

According to the Reuters news agency, the fire was started accidentally by a blow torch.