More than 200 firefighters are responding to a blaze in Dagenham, east London, and two people have been taken to hospital.

A "significant search and rescue operation" is under way as more than 100 people, including children, have been evacuated.

The London Fire Brigade said the building, which they described as a mixed-use residential and commercial building, was known to have "a number of fire safety issues".

A planning application from 2023 shows the building was covered in "non-compliant" cladding.

The scaffolding surrounding the building was in place to remove the cladding when the fire broke out.

Plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky as 40 fire engines and 225 firefighters responded.

Emergency services were called around 2:44 am and the first crews arrived at the tower block within five minutes.

Four patients were treated at the scene, and two were taken to hospital, the London Ambulance Service said.

The entire building was affected by the fire, including the scaffolding surrounding it and the roof.

The cause of the fire remains unknown but a major incident has been declared.