Crews tackle severe 11th floor flat fire in Coventry

Flames and thick black smoke could be seen coming from the flat

Fifty firefighters tackled a major blaze in a 16-storey block of flats in Coventry.

It broke out in an 11th floor flat of Samuel Vale House, in Radford, with smoke spreading to some homes above.

Parts of the St. Nicholas Street building were evacuated and fire crews in breathing apparatus went inside to guide people out.

Several calls came in to West Midlands Fire Service at 16:10 BST. The fire was declared out by 17:40.

Photographs on social media showed flames at two windows, with smoke pouring from the building as the partial evacuation took place.

A fire service spokesman said "several people were able to stay in their homes".

Ten fire engines, 4x4 response vehicles and a hydraulic aerial platform were sent to tackle the blaze, the cause of which is being investigated.

Blackened windows on the 11th floor showed the extent of the fire

Multiple ambulance crews were also sent in, with onlookers reporting seeing people being given oxygen treatment. It is not thought anyone was seriously injured.

People who were led out of the building are being looked after at Coventry Central Seventh Day Adventist Church on St Nicholas Street.

A large cordon was put around the tower block.

Emergency services flooded the scene on Saturday

Ambulances and other emergency vehicles lined the streets close to the flats

Coventry North West Labour MP Taiwo Owatemi thanked firefighters "who have responded so quickly to tackle the fire at Samuel Vale House".

"I hope everyone is safe and that the fire has not resulted in any serious injuries," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The fire service said it was liaising with housing association Citizen Housing.

Fifty firefighters went to the scene and managed to contain the fire