Roads in central Richmond were sealed off this afternoon as London Fire Brigade tackled a blaze in a restaurant.

London Fire Brigade said: "Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters have been called to a fire on Lower George Street in #Richmond.

"Firefighters are currently tackling a fire at a restaurant. The ducting from the first floor to the roof of the building is alight."

Separately, the police warned of multiple road closures, which are heavily disrupting traffic and buses through the town centre.

UPDATE:

London Fire Brigade said: "Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters have been called to a restaurant fire on Lower George Street in Richmond.

The ducting from the first floor to the roof of the building is alight.

"The Brigade was called at 1524. Fire crews from Kingston, Park Royal, Hammersmith and Acton fire stations are at the scene.

"The cause of the fire is not known at this time."

One eyewitness said: "There's a fire in the 'Itsu' building opposite Wholefoods. Huge tailback of traffic."

UPDATE:

Eye-witness Gareth Jones said: "The area photographed was cordoned off by police. They radioed to close all roads into Richmond at 16:30.

The area smelled of smoke, but we had no visibility of flames; we were on e-scooters and managed to walk through the streets to leave to town centre."

UPDATE;

One witness said: "It's a nightmare for the roads. Buses were going the wrong way up the high street to try and escape the area. People will be stuck in their cars for hours.

"There are no buses running from the station, so lots of people face a long walk home this evening.

"The jams ran all the way through the centre of the town and Richmond Bridge was closed for a time."

17:48- Roads are starting to reopen but disruption is expected to continue for some time.

UPDATE:

One traveller caught up in the jams, tweeted: "No buses from Richmond because of a fire and station staff haven't been authorised to accept bus tickets - because nobody from TFL has authorised them to do so. What a shambles."