Hundreds of revellers were evacuated from a nightclub after a fire broke out in Soho in the early hours of this morning.
Eight engines and almost 60 firefighters were called to Panton Street after reports of a blaze at a restaurant just after 1am.
The London Fire Brigade said 12 people were cleared from adjoining properties and 274 from a nearby nightclub, after part of the restaurant's second and third floors and “half of the roof” caught fire.
The LFB’s Rodney Vitalis, who was at the scene, said: “The building was heavily smoke logged and initially it was difficult for crews to gain access and locate the fire. Firefighters worked hard to bring it under control.”
The blaze was brought under control just after 4.30am by crews from Soho, Euston, Lambeth, Dowgate, Paddington and Shoreditch fire stations.
An investigation is now underway to establish the cause of the fire.
