A fire which spread over multiple floors of an apartment block in Manchester has been brought under control.
Firefighters had been tackling a large blaze in a 12-storey building on Joiner Street in the city’s Northern Quarter.
Images posted on social media showed flames engulfing a number of floors and smoke billowing out, while crowds of people watched on from below.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) tweeted: “The fire had spread to multiple floors but we have things well under control here.
“Firefighters along with colleagues from the Police and Ambulance service have done an amazing job to tackle this difficult incident!”
One person was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, the service said.
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell said no-one was thought to be seriously injured.
She tweeted: “I have spoken with the Manchester fire service. The #manchesterfire is under control and the building is being safely evacuated.
“Paramedics & others are at the scene to triage all those affected but no serious injuries known. Thank you our brilliant firefighters & paramedics.”
Two members of the emergency services on a cherry picker at the scene (Danny Lawson/PA)
Members of the public were urged to avoid the area, with Joiner Street and Church Street closed as 12 fire engines responded to the blaze.
Witness Andrew Hirst said crowds could be heard cheering as the fire was extinguished.
“You could hear the crowd’s cheers as it was going down and you could see the torches from the firemen searching the burned out apartments right next door to the other apartments that were still frighteningly ablaze,” the 36-year-old told the Press Association.
The businessman, who lives in the Northern Quarter, said the firefighters “controlled it well” but described the incident as “pretty scary”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: “Thank you to @manchesterfire for their heroic work bringing the blaze in Manchester’s Northern Quarter under control, and to the swift response of @gmpolice and paramedics.”