Multiple fire crews respond to huge blaze at wedding venue New Bingley Hall in Hockley in Birmingham
Fire crews say a huge fire in the roof of a popular wedding venue in Birmingham is proving "difficult" to put out.
Ninety fire-fighters and fourteen fire engines were called to New Bingley Hall in Hockley just after 5 o'clock yesterday evening (14th September).
Crews are still at the scene, more than 24 hours after it started.
More than ten crews first attended the fire, which was described as a "significant incident". That number quickly grew to more than a hundred firefighters.
They say the blaze started in the roof of the building which is causing problems, as there are different layers to the roof, and the fire is alight inside those layers.
The two-storey building is just off Hockley Circus, and covers around five thousand square metres.
New Bingley Hall can host more than eighteen hundred people - but the fire service says it will be closed for the foreseaable future.
The cause of the fire is being looked into - and nobody was seriously hurt.
Severn Trent operators are now assessing and ensuring there is enough water pressure to feed the fire engines and the nearby homes.
Last night Group Commander from West Midlands Fire Service, Matt Young, said he was confident in containing the fire at Hockley Circus.
Speaking to ITV News Central he said: "It's a mixed or duel tactic of using a Hydraulic Platform to tackle the fire roof space but also use firefighters on the ground to make assessment of conditions inside and to make a fire break to stop it from spreading further."
"There's around 10 per cent of the entire building involved in the fire so it's not a great deal, we're confident we can deal with it effectively, it's just that we will be here for some time."
The fire service posted on Twitter saying: "14 fire engines, four brigade response vehicles, a hydraulic platform and over 90 crew are currently tackling a severe fire in Hockley Circus, Birmingham, the first arriving in under five minutes."
"Please avoid the area. Whitmore Street is currently closed and other roads are affected," the fire service said.
Flames could be seen emerging from the roof of the building.
New Bingley Hall is a large events venue specialising in weddings, birthday celebrations and corporate events.