Firefighters contain warehouse fire

Crowds who gathered to watch the fire are being asked to stay away

More than 100 firefighters tackled a huge fire at a warehouse and factory units in west London on Thursday.

They were called to Stonefield Way in South Ruislip, shortly before 2330 BST, where most of an area larger than two football pitches was on fire.

A 200-metre exclusion zone was set up around the buildings because it was feared gas cylinders inside the warehouse could explode.

It took firefighters seven hours to bring the fire, which gutted the warehouse and damaged adjacent factory units and a car repair workshop, under control.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: "Even when the fire is out, the area will still be sealed off for more than 24 hours until the cylinders are safe to be removed."

Police said nobody is believed to be inside the buildings and there have been no reported fatalities.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "It is too early to speculate on the cause but we would treat the fire as suspicious - as is routine - at this early stage."