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A huge blaze ripped through a well-known naturist health spa in North London this afternoon.

The fire took hold in a sauna cabin at Rio's, on Kentish Town Road, where singles and couples can go to enjoy spa facilties completely naked.

Four fire engines were tackling the fire at an "outbuilding" as black smoke billowed across neighbouring rooftops.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman confirmed the service had been called to the fire at 1pm.

She said: "Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers have been called to a fire in Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town."

She added: "Part of an outbuilding within a walled area is currently alight".

The Brigade took more than 35 calls related to the fire, with crews from Kentish Town, Euston and Hornsey fire stations in attendance.

Rio's, which describes itself as "London's leading naturist health spa", has a swimming pool, saunas and steam rooms as well as tanning showers and private massage rooms.

There were unconfirmed reports of women being evacuated from the spa wearing towels.

Pictures showed a group huddled together near the entrance of Rio's while firefighters tackled the blaze behind the row of shops.

The sauna cabin is located between Raglan Street and Kentish Town High Road.

Pictures from the scene showed a tower of thick black smoke reaching high into the blue sky.

Traffic was moving very slowly on Kentish Town Road and there were warnings of delays.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, said the Brigade.

The sauna was damaged in the fire but fire crews managed to stop it spreading.