Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to a fire at a block of flats on De Pass Gardens in Barking.

The ground floor to the sixth floor of the block was alight when fire crews arrived. Twenty flats were destroyed by fire and a further ten flats were also damaged by heat and smoke. Crews fought hard and managed to stop the blaze spreading laterally to affect adjoining premises.

One man and one woman were treated on scene suffering from smoke inhalation. Fortunately no other injuries are reported.

The Brigade's 999 control officers took around 50 calls to the fire.

Deputy Commissioner Richard Mills said: “Firefighters worked really hard to bring the fire under control, with the first two fire engines arriving at the scene in less than six minutes from the time the first 999 call was received.

“Fire crews and our fire investigators will be at the scene throughout the day (Monday, June 10) to fully investigate and understand all of the circumstances of the fire.”

Any residents who are affected by the fire are advised to go to the rest centre at Thames View Community Centre on Bastable Road.

The Brigade was called at 1531 and the fire was under control by 1804. Fire crews from Barking, Dagenham, East Ham, Plaistow, Ilford, Poplar, Stratford, Hornchurch, Leytonstone, Hainault, East Greenwich, Leyton and Romford fire stations were at the scene.

Fire investigators and scientific advisors are at the scene today carrying out extensive investigations into the cause and all other circumstances of the fire.