A Marylebone apartment block was evacuated following a 'serious' fire last night.
Fifty people in the ten storey building in Crawford Place off Edgware Road were helped to safety as some 60 firefighters battled the blaze which broke out at 10.15pm.
A corridor on the eighth floor of the block and part of the lift shaft and lift lobby area were alight.
Edgware Road was shut off during the operation, with the evacuated residents waiting in a nearby fast food restaurant.
Witness Alex Deane shared pictures of the fire, which he took from a neighbouring building.
He tweeted: "Edgware Road currently taped off. Police and fire brigade in force.
"Smoke from Edgware Road fire so strong have had to come inside, close windows. Serious fire, Crawford Place".
The cause of the fire was being investigated but it is not thought to be suspicious.
Station Manager, Matthew Burrows who was at the scene, said: "The communal areas on the eighth floor has been badly damaged but thankfully the fire doors did their job and helped stop the fire spreading into flats.
"Crews evacuated around 50 residents and they waited in a local fast food restaurant. We are hopeful that some will be able to return to their flats shortly."
