Catford Bridge Tavern burns

Plans for the Catford Bridge Tavern - a pub with a convoluted and problematic recent history - have suffered a setback as the pub caught fire this evening. Catching alight is an unfortunately common problem for Lewisham pubs.

Why my train was cancelled. MT @lewishambirder: Old Copperfield pub, catford still on fire #kent_999s @LondonFire pic.twitter.com/snDwgWVraG
— Will Howells (@willhowells) March 1, 2015

The London Fire Brigade reports:

Eight fire engines and 58 firefighters and officers are currently tackling a fire at a pub under refurbishment on Doggett Road in Catford.

Firefighters led four people to safety from the building and they have been taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service suffering light smoke inhalation.

The whole of the roof and second floor and part of the first floor is alight. Trains travelling through nearby Catford Bridge station are doing so at a reduced speed. Firefighters from Greenwich, Lee Green, Bromley, Forest Hill, Lewisham, Bromley, East Greenwich and Orpington fire stations are at the scene. The Brigade was called at 1754. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.