Massive blaze at five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hyde Park as smoke seen across city

A huge fire broke out at a luxury hotel in central London a week after “the most extensive restoration in its 115-year history” was completed.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the five-star Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge just before 16:00 BST. A total of 36 hotel guests and 250 members of hotel staff were evacuated. The blaze reached several floors but was quickly extinguished, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. At the height of the fire about 120 firefighters and 20 engines were sent to the the 12-storey building in William Street, near Hyde Park. The cause of the fire is not yet known and firefighters are likely to remain at the scene through the night, a LFB spokesperson said.Both the ambulance service and the Met Police attended, although there were no reports of any injuries.