BREAKING: Blaze breaks out in tourist hotspot Covent Garden
AROUND 80 firefighters and 12 fire engines are tackling a fire that has broken out in the heart of Covent Garden, an area of central London popular with tourists.
Shocking scenes as FIRE erupts in Covent Garden
Part of a mansard roof is ablaze in a property which consists of a shop and five floors of homes above it on Long Acre.
The Brigade was called at 12.56pm and is still at the scene.
Crews from Lambeth, Euston, Soho, Dowgate, Shoreditch, Whitechapel and Chelsea and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
Firefighters are tackling a blaze in Covent Garden, London
London Fire Brigade are attending a fire in Covent Garden
London Fire Brigade have sealed off the area around Long Acre
Witness Bernie Brown told the Standard: "I started smelling a strong burning smell coming into the shop, what must be 15 or 20 minutes later three or four fire engines arrived.
"They identified that it was a top floor flat on Long Acre that was alight and raised the extendable ladders breaking the windows.
"Within minutes there were around 10 fire trucks on the scene, cordoned off the road with police and paramedics soon after.
"I'm not sure if anyone was inside however you could see people waving from the window next to the fire which being five stories or so up must have been extremely scary."
Long Acre in Covent Garden, London
One witness to events wrote on Twitter: "Fire in Covent Garden. Hope everyone's ok the smoke was everywhere!"
Another stated: "Covent Garden smelling of smoke. Officers saying a pub is affected."
The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.
Around 80 firefighters are dealing with the blaze
London Fire Brigade said there were no reports of any injuries and everyone in the building had been accounted for.
The area remains sealed off.
An update from London Fire Brigade just before 4pm said that the fire crews “continued to make good progress”.
More to follow…