Hospital wing evacuated in fire

Thirty patients have been evacuated from a south London hospital after a blaze broke out in the premises.

Patients were moved to other parts of Mayday hospital in Croydon after a fire began in the early hours in its MRI suite, Mayday Healthcare Trust said.

All planned surgery and out-patient appointments in the London wing were cancelled and its accident and emergency (A&E) department was closed.

No patients or staff were hurt in the fire, which is now being investigated.

Patients going into A&E are being diverted to neighbouring hospitals.

Major incident plan

A decision on when to reopen the departments will be taken later by hospital authorities.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "The trust launched its internal major incident plan just after 4am.

"Thirty patients were safely evacuated to other parts of the hospital and no patients or staff have been hurt."

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said a small section of the ground floor and part of a medical unit were damaged by the blaze.

He added eight fire engines and about 40 firefighters were called to the fire at 0336 BST. It was brought under control by 0824 BST.