Fire breaks out in Fleet Street above one of London's oldest pubs used by Charles Dickens
DOZENS of firefighters were tackling a huge blaze this afternoon after a fire broke out above one of the oldest pubs in London.
Smoke billowing from the building at the scene of the fire
Dramatic pictures from the scene showed smoke billowing from a first-floor flat in Fleet Street, above the historic Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub.
The famous retreat was a favourite among great literary figures including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alfred Tennyson and P G Wodehouse.
Rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of 1666, it was also a regular haunt for journalists when the iconic street was home to British national newspapers in the 1980s.
Around 30 firefighters and six fire engines were at the scene after the blaze engulfed the flat, which is adjacent to the offices of Goldman Sachs, around 2:30pm this afternoon.
Fortunately it doesn't look like anyone has been injured at #FleetStreet fire. pic.twitter.com/bdycV9FKaC
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) November 11, 2015
We're working hard to bring #FleetStreet fire under control. Blaze is in a 1st floor flat above a pub. pic.twitter.com/VrTJryFgs0
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) November 11, 2015
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported that the fire was in a first floor flat above a pub on Fleet Street, which was closed both ways following the blaze.
The emergency service tweeted there were no injuries.
A flat above a pub on #FleetStreet is on fire & we've got 6 engines, 30 firefighters at the scene. Pic @PremSafety pic.twitter.com/XONgH2O760
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) November 11, 2015
It is not yet know what caused the fire, which is now understood to have been brought under control.
No damage is believed to have been caused to the building.