Around 60 firefighters are battling a huge blaze at a block of flats in south east London.

Huge plumes of smoke were pictured rising from the building on Childers Street in Deptford on Wednesday evening.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) tweeted: “Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters have been called to a fire at a block of flats on Childers Street.”

Videos and pictures of the fire were posted on social media as billowing smoke could be seen across the city.

The fire broke out in a sixth floor flat and part of the roof of the building is alight.

Firefighters were alerted at 7.26pm and 34 calls were made to the control room about the fire.

The LFB later brought in reinforcements taking the number of engines at the scene to 12.

Fire crews from the south London districts of Deptford, New Cross, Greenwich, Old Kent Road, Lewisham and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.

A LFB spokesman said: “The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.” 

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