Dozens of firefighters tackled a fire burning across five floors of a block of flats in east London.

London fire brigade said 12 engines were called to the Clapton area of Hackney shortly before 10.40pm.

Images posted on social media appeared to show a blaze in a multi-storey apartment block and the brigade confirmed that the part of the external balcony that serves the lower floors had caught fire.

There was no initial indication of whether or not there had been any casualties. Around 80 firefighters were called out.

One woman was led to safety by firefighters but there were no reports of injuries, the brigade said late on Monday night. Crews were expected to be at the scene throughout the night.