Video footage from social media captured the extent of the flames

A large fire is being tackled by around 60 firefighters at a block of flats in central London.

Images show flames bursting out of the window at the residential building on Bartholomew Close, Barbican.

A man who managed to escape from the blaze before the fire service arrived is being treated by an ambulance on the scene.

The other people living in the building have been evacuated.

There are eight fire engines on site to take on the fire, which has engulfed parts of two flats on the third and fourth floor of the block.

They were called there just before 4pm, with crews from Soho, East Greenwich, Lambeth and other surrounding areas of the city attending to help the efforts.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has urged people to avoid the streets surrounding the close.

A statement from the fire service said: ‘Part of two four-roomed flats on the third and fourth floors of a residential block are currently alight.

‘One man left the building before the Brigade arrived and is being treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken more than 35 calls to the blaze.’

They added: ‘The cause of the fire is not known at this time.’

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One man is being treated by an ambulance at the scene.