A
Fire in
Great Portland Street in
London has sent thick smoke billowing behind the BBC Broadcasting House building near Soho and the shopping area of Oxford Street. London Fire Brigade confirmed a number of gas cylinders are involved in the blaze.
The fire broke out a building site in Great Portland Street at about 12.45pm.
London Fire Brigade said: "The Great Portland Street fire is in a building under refurbishment. There are a number of gas cylinders involved in the blaze. A exclusion zone of 25 metres has been set up, as a precaution, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat."
There are ten fire engines and 50 firefighters tackling the blaze on Great Portland Street.
The Fire Service added it had received more than 40 calls reporting the fire.
The Metropolitan Police are also on the scene.
The road has been closed in both directions and people have been asked to avoid the area.
Witnesses shared footage of thick smoke and flames leaping up a scaffold structure surrounding a building on the road.
People on social media have reported seeing the acrid black smoke from as far as 5 miles away.