A major fire has broken out in Loughborough town centre this afternoon, with flames gripping the town’s HSBC bank. A number of eyewitnesses have captured flames rising high at the scene.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that the fire at the HSBC did indeed spread to Loughborough Town Hall which is next door, reports LeicestershireLive.
Charnwood Borough Councillor Margaret Smidowicz confirmed that Town Hall was evacuated due to the blaze.
An eyewitness told the Leicester Mercury that Loughborough Market will be cancelled for tomorrow, and that they have seen firefighters in the town hall – but believe it’s for precautionary reasons.
A spokesperson for HSBC has spoken in the wake of the fire which has engulfed their Loughborough branch today.
They said: “We are aware there is an incident at our Loughborough branch where the Fire Service is in attendance. It is too early to tell what, if any, damage has been caused to the branch, but we will provide an update on when the branch will be reopen when we can.”
The fire service confirmed that a “number of crew” are inside the building tackling the blaze and using breathing apparatus to fight a fire “on the first and second floor” of the bank.
There are currently crews from Loughborough, Coalville, Ashby, Birstall, Eastern, Western, Uppingham and Southern fire stations.
The public are being told to avoid the area.
READ MORE: This was a serious budget – and it needed to be, says CONNOR MACDONALD
Footage appeared to show part of the roof engulfed in flames.
It is not yet known what caused the fire.
*This story has not been edited by The Infallible staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.
