Around 70 firefighters have tackled a huge blaze that tore through a building in London's famous Camden Lock Market.
Emergency services were called to the popular tourist attraction shortly before midnight on Sunday after fire took hold in a property near the Camden Stables.
Onlookers described the fire “moving very fast”, raising fears of explosions if it reached nearby restaurants.
Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters have been called to reports of a fire in #Camden Lock Market. More when we have it. pic.twitter.com/O21OLbIyLb
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) July 9, 2017
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it sent 10 fire engines, including an aerial appliance, to the incident, while witnesses described seeing "lots of ambulances" racing to the scene.
Crews from across central and north London fought to contain the blaze, which was “highly visible across the area”, for around three hours.
Station manager David Reid, who was at the scene, said: "Crews worked hard to get the fire under control and to stop it from spreading to neighbouring buildings."
It is understood around 30 per cent of the first, second, and third floors, and a third of the roof of the 30 by 40 metre building, was damaged by the fire, which was brought under control by around 2.50am.
It is the second time in recent years that the north London market has been hit by a serious blaze.
In February 2008 the Camden Canal Market was destroyed by an inferno that wrecked several local landmarks and put the waterside market out of action for 15 months.
The area sees an estimated 28 million visitors a year, with crowds drawn to the area by the shopping, entertainment and nightlife on offer.
Witness Joan Ribes (24) said on Monday: "I was just passing by when I saw the fire and they started to get firefighters and police, it was all very fast.
“We called the police to close the street to the traffic because it was very dangerous, the fire was flying through the air to the surrounding areas.
“The fire was moving very fast. People were watching, but we were scared the building could explode at any time since there are restaurants with kitchens nearby.”
Footage posted on social media showed flames shooting into the sky while firefighters sprayed water through windows.
One witness said: “Just drove past Camden market and there’s a huge fire on top a building, close to the Lock Bridge! Crazy crazy scenes.”
Another witness tweeted: “On a night bus I just passed the start of a big fire in Camden ... I’ve seen lots of ambulances head north.”
So far there have not been any reports of injuries from the blaze and it is understood all people at the building have been accounted for.
A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We were called at 00.07 today (10th July) to reports of a fire at Camden Lock Market.
“We sent a clinical team leader and our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) to the scene.
“We have not treated any patients, and we remain at the scene.”
The Metropolitan Police said it had also been called to the incident and officers were remaining in the area.
LFB said the cause of the fire is under investigation and its crews will remain at the scene during the morning to damp down hot spots.
The Camden blaze was another challenge for the brigade after the June 14th Grenfell Tower fire that killed at least 80.
A spokeswoman for Market Tech, the major shareholder in Camden Lock Market, said the fire was “isolated” to one building.
She said: “Thankfully no-one was injured during the incident.
“While a small section of Camden Lock Market will be closed off to the public until further notice as a precaution, the rest of Camden Lock Market and the wider area, including Stables Market and Union Street, will be fully open and operating and welcoming visitors and customers as usual.”
PA