Firefighters tackle Chingford warehouse blaze

Firefighters are tackling a huge blaze at a disused warehouse.

Around 50 firemen and 10 fire engines were called to the vacant DIY warehouse in Chingford, east London, just after 3pm today.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: "Ten fire engines and around 50 firefighters have been called to a fire in a disused DIY centre on Hickman Avenue, Highams Park, Chingford. Around half of the building is alight.

"The brigade was called at 3.11pm. Crews from Chingford, Tottenham, Edmonton, Woodford and Walthamstow fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage."

A staff member at E4 Health and Fitness, a gym on Hickman Avenue, said the building on fire was a former Focus superstore.

"We are hemmed in at the moment, that's all," she said. "It is the Focus building which is on fire. I can see it from here."

A worker at Rackhams, a flooring distributor on the same estate, said: "No one is being allowed out at the moment. The whole building is completely gone, you can see that from ground level."

PA