Huge fire sweeps through Camden market

LONDON (Reuters) - A huge fire swept through Camden market, one of the capital's most popular tourist spots, on Saturday, damaging shops, a famous nightspot and nearby houses.

London Fire Brigade said it had sent 20 fire engines and 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze at the market in north London, a bohemian area usually thronged with shoppers and people enjoying local pubs and clubs.

Nobody was injured but market storage areas and shops were set ablaze and adjoining houses damaged, the Fire Brigade said.

The fire devoured the Hawley Arms pub, a popular haunt of celebrities including singer Amy Winehouse and model Kate Moss.

Some local residents had to be evacuated as a precaution, the Fire Brigade said.

Throngs of revellers stood in the streets of Camden, a trendy fashion and music hub, watching flames and smoke billowing into the air. By late evening, the blaze had died down but firefighters said they would remain on scene all night.

"The fire is surrounded by our fire crews and they are continuing to try and bring this under control," Fire Brigade spokesman Guy Foster told reporters.

He said the blaze appeared to have started in market stalls. Investigators were on scene but it was too early to say what had caused it, he said.

A police spokesman said there was nothing to suggest the fire's origins were criminal.