Firefighters have saved NHS supplies and fuel which were destined for the Nightingale Hospital following a large fire at an industrial estate in Barking this morning.

A range of shipping containers were badly damaged by the blaze and two vans were destroyed. Five people were escorted from the site by the Brigade. There were no reports of any injuries.

Group Commander Dan Kipling, who was at the scene, said: “The scene of the fire was a large industrial estate which was full of shipping containers and the fire had started amongst them.

“Crews were making steady progress tackling the fire and when people began arriving for work it was highlighted to crews that this NHS stock was on site.

“Firefighters then worked to prioritise removing two pallets of NHS equipment and 72,000 litres of Diesel so they didn’t become involved in the fire.

“Crews worked very hard and did a really good job in difficult circumstances to prioritise saving the stock and fuel, which has now left the site for the Nightingale Hospital.”

The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took 21 calls to the fire.

The Brigade was called at 0649 and the fire was under control by 1110. Fire crews from Plaistow, Poplar, Ilford, Dagenham, Ruislip, Millwall ad surrounding fire stations were at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation