The fire at the Cambridge Road estate continues to spread, with hundreds of witnesses watching as firefighters tackle the blaze.

A crane has just gone up the side of the building and started shooting water.

One eyewitness, who lives in a neighbouring tower, said: “These flats are not at all safe. Fires happen here all the time with antisocial behaviour. Older people can’t get down because the lift stops. How are people supposed to get out?”

Other eyewitnesses said they had just seen firefighters entering the building and one person said two men had broken down a door to rescue a baby, although there is no confirmation of this.

The fire continues to rage and has spread to the top four floors and roof.

Diversions are currently being put in place by police. Cambridge Road, St Peter's Road, Gloucester Road and Hawes Road are currently closed, sparking huge traffic delays across the area.

James Henderson, who lives in Norbiton, said: "The traffic is going back for miles. All the back roads are blocked as well. People can't even get out of their parking spaces becuase people are filling the residential roads.

"It's like 9/11. There's thick black smoke covering the sky above my house. It's like domesday. The smoke was grey, but now it's thick and black. It's acrid."

Thais Portilho-Shrimpton, also on scene, said: "I can see the firefighters through the windowm fighting the fire from inside.

"Residents are going mad because people are parking their cars to have a look. They are blocking the roads so emergency vehicles will struggle to get through."

A spokesman for Metropolitan Police said the building had been evacuated and there were no reported injuries.

London Ambulance Service sent a single responder, two ambulance crews and a duty manager, but have not treated anyone and are assisting the fire service at present.