Clapton fire: Flames engulf side of east London tower block

Fire chiefs were today trying to establish the cause of a blaze that saw a four-storey tower of flame engulf the side of a building.

Six fire engines spent two and a half hours getting the inferno, which broke out at about 1pm, under control.

One, a 21-year-old man who drove past on his way to work in Tottenham, told the Standard: “It looked very bad – I saw flames in four flats, one on top of the other. The whole road was full of smoke.

"It was frightening. It’s a block of flats in the middle of the day – it’s usually full."

Jordan Morris ‏(@alfiecrockett1) tweeted: "Never seen so many emergency people for a fire. […] No wonder it’s so warm."

London Fire Brigade said a second-floor flat and three balconies above it were affected by the blaze.

Group manager Lee Drawbridge said: "Firefighters did a terrific job in difficult conditions to stop the fire spreading further. Thankfully there were no injuries."

An ambulance spokesman said: "We were called at 1.04pm to reports of a fire in Woodmill Road, E5.

"We sent two ambulance crews, a Hazardous Response Team and Duty Manager. We remain on the scene."