More than 100 firefighters are tackling a major blaze in central London which broke out on the fifth floor of a large block of flats.

The London Fire Brigade was called to the property on Leman Street in Aldgate at around 6.45pm after the fire started. Fifteen fire engines are at the scene, where images show a significant blaze inside the fifth-floor flat, and video footage captures thick black smoke billowing from a window. Crews from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Shoreditch, Dowgate and Bethnal Green are working to contain the fire. The cause of the incident is currently unknown.

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters are tackling a flat fire on Leman Street in Aldgate.

“A fifth-floor flat is alight. Part of a second flat on the seventh floor is also alight. One of the Brigade’s 64-metre turntable ladders is being used as an observation tower, providing a vantage point for incident commanders to assess the incident.”