HUGE FIRE in Stratford flat - 58 firefighters rush to the scene

About 100 people were forced to flee their homes after a fire broke out in a 17th-floor flat in east London. A total of 58 firefighters rushed to the scene on Leather Gardens, Stratford, after 999 operators received dozens of calls from concerned members of the public. The blaze had engulfed the flat, leaving it completely destroyed. Pictures from social media showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from the flat's windows.

London Fire Brigade, which received the first reports of the fire at about 1.20am on Monday, said there were no reports of any injuries. The fire was brought under control by about 2.50am. A spokesman for the fire service said: "The brigade's 999 control officers took 26 calls to the fire. Fire engines from Stratford, Plaistow, Leyton, East Ham, Bethnal Green and surrounding fire stations attended the scene."

The cause of the fire is not yet known and is currently under investigation.