A huge fire has broken out in a luxury five-star hotel in Knightsbridge, West London.
Fire crews carrying up to a reported 100 firefighters are responding to the enormous blaze, which saw smoke billow across the capital after it broke out of the Mandarin Hotel.
Such was the extent of the smoke, plumes could be seen from Hackney, East London, as the blaze broke out at 4pm this afternoon. A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said:
"Fifteen fire engines and 97 firefighters and officers have been called to a visible fire in William Street in Knightsbridge.
"The Brigade's 999 control officers have taken more than 35 calls to the fire, which is producing a lot of smoke.
"The Brigade was called at 1555. Fire crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith, Battersea and other surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
"The cause of the fire is not known at this stage."
While the brigade could not confirm whether the blaze occurred inside of a commercial or residential building, several witness reports from the scene claim that the fire broke out inside of the Mandarin Hotel.
The hotel underwent a multi-million-pound refurbishment this year, with the last of the work being finished in May. The £185 million refit saw the hotel kitted out with new bedrooms, public areas, restaurants and a new spa. The restaurant also plays home to Heston Blumenthal's celebrated restaurant Dinner, Bar Boulud, London and the Mandarin Bar.
This story is developing and will be updated accordingly.
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