London Hundreds evacuated as fire breaks out in Elephant and Castle

Hundreds of residents were evacuated and one person was taken to hospital after a large blaze in south London, which sent a fireball and black smoke billowing into the air.

Fifteen fire engines and about 100 firefighters were called to the incident, which began at a car repair garage below Elephant and Castle station shortly before 1.45pm on Monday.

The fire engulfed three commercial units under the railway arches, six cars and a telephone box and it took firefighters just under two hours to bring it under control. The London ambulance service said it treated six people, believed to be five people who worked in the garage and a police officer, one of whom was taken to hospital.