People are being urged to avoid an area in Liverpool city centre after a hotel fire.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue confirmed they were called to a fire on Castle Street just after 8.30pm this evening. The fire was on the second floor of the Tune hotel, and firefighters remain at the scene.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue service said: "Firefighters are currently in attendance at a fire in a hotel on Castle Street, Liverpool City Centre.
"Crews were alerted at 8.33pm and on scene at 8.38pm. Three fire engines are in attendance.
"On arrival crews found a fire on the second floor of the hotel. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the premises under rapid deployment. The fire had been extinguished by 8.59pm.
"A full evacuation of the hotel has taken place. One person was rescued by firefighters and is receiving first aid on scene. All other persons have been accounted for.
"North West Ambulance Service and Merseyside Police are also in attendance. An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out in due course.
"Please avoid the area."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Paul Philbin
Full story
People were forced to wait for hours outside a city centre hotel without shoes on after a fire broke out.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) confirmed it was called just after 8.30pm to Tune Hotel on Castle Street in the city centre after a fire broke out on the second floor of the hotel. The service confirmed one person was rescued from the fire and given first aid at the scene.,
The road was cordoned off for around an hour and a half as emergency services descended onto the busy road, with Rox, Sanctuary Tap and Queen Avenue being forced to shut due to the cordon. People gathered outside the cordon as they patiently waited to be let back in, with some having to evacuate with nothing on their feet.
Paul Philbin
What we know so far
Paul Philbin
Lots of movement
Paul Philbin
Footage from the scene
Paul Philbin
A number of firefighters have left the scene
Paul Philbin
People still waiting to be let back in
Kate Lally
Fire alarm sounded for 'fifteen minutes'
Kate Lally
String of Castle Street bars forced to close
A number of bars near the Tune Hotel have been forced to shut.
Kate Lally
Cordon includes Tune Hotel and Queen Avenue
The police cordon covers the stretch of Castle Street that includes the Tune Hotel and one entrance to Queen Avenue
Kate Lally
Bollards 'issue'
Fire crews are said to have struggled to get through Castle Street
Kate Lally
Police cordon outside the hotel
A large police cordon is in place outside of the hotel as fire crews go in and out of the building.
Kate Lally
Man from 'room next to fire' forced to flee in pyjamas
A man who said he was in the room next to where the fire broke out has had to leave the hotel in his pyjamas.
Kate Lally
Huge emergency response
Our reporter Benjamin Roberts-Haslam is currently on Castle Street.
There is a huge emergency response as can be seen in his photo.