Blaze erupts in UK city as dozens of firefighters deployed and thick smoke rises

Ripple Road runs through Barking in east London and forms part of a heavily industrial and commercial area close to the A13.

A number of industrial and warehouse developments are located along the road, including the Maybells, Portland and Rippleside commercial estates. The area also lies close to railway lines running towards Barking Riverside.

The A13 provides one of the area’s main transport links, connecting this part of east London with the North Circular and central London to the west and the M25 to the east.

Barking and Dagenham Council has confirmed today’s fire is at an industrial site on Ripple Road, although the precise premises involved has not yet been identified.