Fire rips through roof-top in London's legal heartland

AN investigation began today after a central London building was partially destroyed when fire ripped through its upper floors.

The blaze destroyed the roof and top floor of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in Field House, Bream's Buildings, off Chancery Lane.

More than 130 people had to be evacuated as flames spread rapidly through the building, at the heart of London's legal community. No one is believed to have been hurt.

One workman, who did not want to be named, said: "There were four of us up there laying down bitumen for water proofing. The bitumen has obviously got under the slates and set light. Suddenly the alarms went off and we had to get down quickly."

The London Fire Brigade said 75 firefighters tackled the fire for more than seven hours and had to contend with three cylinders of propane gas stored on the roof. Police cordoned off Chancery Lane at its junction with Fleet Street just before 4pm yesterday.

Andrew Kendle, 41, from Golders Green, who works at the Official Solicitor's Office in Chancery Lane, said: "Material from the roof started exploding outwards every 10 seconds or so. It's amazing that one of the firemen didn't get hurt."

The Ministry of Justice said that asylum appeal hearings would have to be rearranged.

Up in flames 130 evacuated as fire rips through rooFtop in London's legal heartland