Fire at Jerwood Space in Union Street

A member of Jerwood Space staff noticed smoke just after 8.30am and raised the alarm.

12 people left the building and no-one was injured.

The evacuees from the Jerwood Space took shelter in the adjacent London Fire Brigade headquarters

Jerwood Space is a complex of rehearsal rooms for theatre productions and also has an art gallery and cafe.

The fire created a pall of smoke that drifted across nearby streets. Part of the basement was damaged in the fire.

Six fire engines were sent to the incident from Lambeth, Dowgate, Dockhead, Soho and Whitechapel fire stations.

Command units also arrived from Fulham and Islington.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

Union Street was closed to traffic while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Jerwood Space said that the building had suffered "minimal damage" and they hoped to be open as usual at the weekend.