Fire guts Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central London(Photos)

Twenty fire engines and 120 firefighters and officers were called to a blaze on the roof of the five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge, central London last night.

The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained but the thick black smoke was visible coming from roof

Police said the hotel was being evacuated and it was not yet known whether there had been any injuries. It was gathered that the raging inferno has swept through 12 floors at the hotel.

Guests at the 12-storey luxury hotel, which has recently undergone a £185m refurbishment, were safely evacuated, some in their dressing gowns. The London ambulance service attended the scene, close to Harrods department store, but said there were no casualties.