A man has been taken to hospital and four others treated following a “chemical incident” in Fulham in the middle of the night.

Fire and ambulance crews were called to a block of flats in Landridge Road today (July 17) at 12:35am.

The scene was attended by eight fire engines and 60 firefighters along with ambulance crews from London Ambulance Service.

One man was taken to hospital and a further four treated at the scene by paramedics.

Fire crews in breathing equipment escorted residents from the block to safety, carried out checks of the properties and worked at the scene for several hours until 5:56am this morning, when residents were allowed to return to their homes.

Station Commander Graham Crow said: "This was a protracted incident with crews remaining on scene for several hours.

“Motorists were advised to avoid the area due to a cordon put in place around the property."

One man was taken to hospital and a further four treated at the scene by paramedics.One man was taken to hospital and a further four treated at the scene by paramedics. (Image: London Fire Brigade)

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation by London Fire Brigade.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to reports of a chemical incident at a block of flats on Landridge Road in Fulham

“One man from a first floor flat in the five storey building was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. A further four residents were treated by them on scene.

“Crews wearing breathing apparatus helped residents in the block to evacuate their properties.

“Firefighters carried out a final monitoring sweep of the building and found no elevated readings, allowing residents to return to their properties.

“The Brigade was called at 0035 and the incident was over by 0556. Fire crews from Fulham, Wandsworth, Euston, Bethnal Green, Hammersmith, Kensington, Battersea and Chiswick fire stations were at the scene.”