Camden market before the fire. Photo / British Tourist Authority
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Firefighters have managed to contain a huge blaze in North London but part of the iconic Camden market has been destroyed.
The Times Online reports that the Hawley Arms, a famous Camden pub where celebrities including singer Amy Winehouse hang out, has been badly damaged.
Thousands of people
had to be evacuated from the area's bars and restaurants when the fire broke out just after 7pm local time (0800 NZST).
Earlier there were fears some people had been trapped inside the market, but no casualties have been reported.
At the height of the blaze London Fire Brigade said it had 20 fire engines and 100 firefighters battling the flames.
It is believed the blaze - which was brought under control after about four hours - began in a scaffold-covered building on Chalk Farm Road, adjacent to the market.
A police spokesman said there were no immediate reports of injuries and nothing to suggest the fire's origins were criminal.
"I can see the entire market ... covered in yellow flames. It seems like it's spreading quite quickly as well," eyewitness Lawrence Wahlund told Sky News earlier.
Trains travelling on the overland railway line nearby were halted and eyewitnesses told the Times Online flames were shooting up to 9m into the air.
According to the Camden market website, it is the largest street market in Britain and the fourth most-visited tourist attraction in London, with about 500,000 visitors a week.
Situated next to Camden Lock and opened in the 1970s, it has grown into a sprawling complex of market stalls, shops, workshops, studios and cafes. Shops sell everything from arts and crafts to designer clothes and antiques.
Police said it was too early to comment on the possible cause of the blaze and there was no immediate word on how serious the damage to the market was.
- REUTERS, NZ HERALD STAFF
