Evacuation in City of London as restaurant kitchen beneath offices catch fire, causing four engines and 25 firefighters to rush to the scene to battle blaze

An evacuation is taking place in the City of London after a restaurant kitchen beneath a building of offices caught on fire.

Dramatic images of the blaze showed smoke billowing out of a building located just a stone’s throw away from the Bank of England on Lothbury.

The fire broke out near to St Paul’s Cathedral at around 4pm this afternoon.

Four fire engines and 25 firefighters charged into the building to tackle the blaze on Lothbury after the ground floor kitchen was set alight.

London Fire Brigade said: ‘Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters are responding to a fire at a restaurant with offices above on Lothbury in City of London.

‘The ground-floor kitchen was partially alight. The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken over 10 calls to the fire. The Brigade was first called at 3.47pm.

‘Crews from Shoreditch, Dockhead, Shadwell and surrounding fire stations are in attendance at the scene.’

This is a breaking news story. More follows.

An evacuation is taking place in the City of London after a restaurant kitchen beneath a building of offices caught on fire