Clouds of thick black smoke rose above central London today as fire fighters fought a blaze in the bustling Soho area of the capital.

The blaze at 76 Dean Street, in the historic area of the West End, began at 2pm. Firecrews called to the scene used cranes to reach the building, which houses the hedge fund Future Capital, as flames ripped through it.

Smoke rising from the building could be seen from miles around. Twelve fire engines and 60 firefighters were sent to fight the flames, which witnesses said started in an air conditioning duct in the building.

One man who works inside the building said: “We’ve all been evacuated in the last hour."

Nino Ripani, manager of nearby restaurant Signor Zilli’s, said: “It’s really shocking - it’s something that you don’t see every day. It’s really getting to serious stuff now - we can see the black bits coming out.”

Restaurant customers who had been dining outside were brought inside but the business had stayed open, he said. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Soho is a busy area of central London filled with shops, bars and restaurants and tourists clamoured to get a glimpse of the flames. Fire engines struggled through the crowds to get to the four-storey building.

Yesterday, fire crews were called to a building in nearby Newport Place, housing a restaurant and offices. The fire damaged the basement of the five-storey building but no-one was hurt.

General manager of the Couch bar, Laura Carr, said the end of the street was blocked off. “I think it’s spread to the next building, I’m not sure.

“There are lots of people hanging around and just watching, and there would normally be lots of people around at this time anyway. We are trading as normal at the moment and will wait to see if there are any further instructions. We’re just playing it by ear.”

Two and a half hours after it broke out, the fire was brought under control but the area is likely to be cordoned off for the evening. No members of the public were injured but two firefighters were slightly hurt.

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