A fire at an old Berkshire hospital, where Ronnie Kray was incarcerated, is under now control

Fire broke out at the former Broadmoor hospital near Crowthorne Credit: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

A fire at the old Broadmoor Hospital site - where Ronnie Kray and the Yorkshire Ripper were once incarcerated - is now under control.

At its height around 40 firefighters from Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey attended, alongside three officers.

The alarm was raised this morning at 9:37am.

More than 40 firefighers were called to the derelict building Credit: Chris Baldwin

Crews worked alongside officers from Thames Valley Police and Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue Service.

They extinguished the fire using two aerial ladder platforms.

However, they are likely to remain on scene for some time damping down the area, with a watching brief to ensure scene safety.

The cause of the fire will be subject to an investigation, which will be completed alongside the service's partners.

A reduced operation will continue as crews damp down the area Credit: Chris Baldwin

Paul Bremble, Area Manager, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This was a significant fire at a derelict building on the old Broadmoor Hospital site which required a large response from our Service and our partners.

“Although there was significant damage inside the building, crews worked effectively to contain the fire and prevent it spreading.”


Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...