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A major fire broke out in a derelict building in Manchester city centre this evening, with residents in nearby apartment buildings forced to evacuate.
The building, which is the now-derelict Hotspur Press building beside Oxford Road station, erupted into flames this afternoon.
As a result all lines are blocked at the station, with Network Rail saying train services will be cancelled or delayed for most of the evening.
Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are still at the scene.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) told Metro: ‘Firefighters are currently tackling a large fire at the derelict Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street in Manchester.
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‘An evacuation of the neighbouring apartment buildings is taking place. The public are advised to stay away from the area while crews continue to tackle the fire.
‘Crews are working hard to tackle the fire at the Hotspur Press building. 20 fire engines from stations across Greater Manchester are at the scene, where three floors of the building are alight. Multiple jets and the air unit are in use to prevent the spread of the fire.
‘All floors of the two apartment blocks at 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated.’
Greater Manchester Police confirmed to Metro that it is in attendance alongside the fire service.
National Rail said in a statement: ‘There is a fire next to the track at Manchester Oxford Road, closing all lines at this station.
‘As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised.
‘Major disruption is expected to continue to impact services until 21:00.’
Images from across the Manchester skyline show plumes of smoke in the sky, with videos showing firefighters still tackling the ongoing fire.
Local councillor and city centre spokesperson Pat Karney said that council officers are ‘awaiting advice from the fire service about any evacuation of residents’.
‘I can see the huge dark clouds from my flat,’ he added.
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