Finchley Road fire: Pregnant woman among 25 people rescued from Hampstead blaze

Two people, including the pregnant woman, were rescued from the roof of the building

London Fire Brigade crews have rescued 25 people - including two from the roof - of a shop and flats on fire in Finchley Road (London Fire Brigade)

Twenty five people have been rescued by fire-fighters from a blaze on Finchley Road in north-west London, including a pregnant woman and one other who had to be helped to safety from the roof of a building.

The cause of the fire, which broke out on Monday morning at a shop and flats in the area, is not yet known.

London Fire Brigade crews led 23 people to safety from the flats but two people, including the pregnant woman, had to be rescued from the roof using a turntable ladder.

Twelve people have been treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and a two-year-old child has been taken to hospital as a precaution suffering from smoke inhalation.

The London Fire Brigade was called at 6.24am, with 10 fire engines and arround 70 firefighters from West Hampstead, Kentish Town, Euston, Finchley, Hendon and Addington fire stations at the scene.

Station Manager David George, who is at the scene, said: "Firefighters are working hard in strenuous conditions to contain this fire and bring it under control. On arrival crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the building and led over 20 people to safety from inside. We also used one of our turntable ladders, which is like a cherry picker, to rescue a further two people from the roof."

The London Fire Brigade tweeted that crews are still at the scene attempting to bring the fire under control. Both lanes on Finchley Road have been closed.