Large fire breaks out at tower block

Firefighters are tackling a fire which has broken out at a tower block, sending a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said it received reports of the blaze at a former multi-storey car park on Elmsleigh Road in Staines-upon-Thames at 12.30pm on Wednesday.

In an update on Twitter, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said the incident was “now under control and all people are accounted for”.

The fire service urged people to avoid the area where possible and asked residents to keep their windows closed.