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Missing people claims after house fire 'unfounded'

Initial reports that four people were missing after a house fire in east London were unfounded, the fire brigade said today.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said the roof was destroyed and a large part of the ground and first floors damaged.

The remains of a house in Romford Road, Forest Gate in London after a fire engulfed the property. Credit: John Stillwell/PA Wire
Firefighters outside the remains of a house in Romford Road, Forest Gate in London. Credit: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Nobody else involved in East London house fire

"The fire caused severe damage to the house and the roof was destroyed. Crews rescued a man from the rear of the house using a ladder. Both men have been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Due to the reports that other people might be trapped, our fire crews performed an extensive search of the building, and fortunately have confirmed that no one else was involved. Our fire investigation unit is now working to find out what caused the blaze."

– London Fire Brigade

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Around 60 firefighters attended house blaze

About 60 firefighters attended the blaze and rescued one man from the roof of the building. Another escaped before crews arrived, the fire brigade said.

The fire caused severe damage to the house and the roof was destroyed. Crews rescued a man from the rear of the house using a ladder.

Both men have been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Our fire investigation unit is now working to find out what caused the blaze.

– Station manager Daniel Alie,

The building is believed to have been disused. Its roof was destroyed by the blaze and a large section of the ground and first floors were badly damaged, a spokesman added.

National

Four missing and two men in hospital after fire

Four people are missing and two men have been taken to hospital after a house fire in east London, emergency services said.

Eight fire engines were called to Romford Road in Forest Gate, east London, at 3.15am after flames engulfed the property.

Firefighters rescued one man from the ground floor and another from the second floor, London Fire Brigade said, and they have been taken to hospital where they are being treated for smoke inhalation

Rare bumblebee spotted close to Central London

The Shrill Carder, Bombus Sylvarum bumblee.
The Shrill Carder, Bombus Sylvarum bumblee.

A rare bumblebee which has seen its numbers decline rapidly across Southern England in the past 100 years has been spotted in East London as part of a project funded by The Co-operative’s Plan Bee campaign.

The Shrill Carder, Bombus Sylvarum bumblee.
The Shrill Carder, Bombus Sylvarum bumblee.

The Shrill Carder, Bombus Sylvarum, one of the UK’s most threatened bumblebees with just six or seven populations in England and Wales, was seen last month at the Crossness sewage works, Thamesmead, a Thames Water site.

It was thought that there maybe a colony in the Thames Gateway but limited to the North Kent and South Essex coast, so experts were surprised to see this species at a site so close to central London.

The bee was spotted by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Thames protester 'could have died'

A protester who swam into the Thames to disrupt this year's Boat Race could have been killed, four-time Olympic gold medal rower Sir Matthew Pinsent told a court.

Sir Matthew, who was assistant umpire during April's race, made a written statement to police just hours after Trenton Oldfield, 36, was plucked from the path of the speeding Cambridge and Oxford boats.

Oldfield, of Myrdle Street, east London, denies causing a public nuisance but admits swimming in the path of the crews. London's Isleworth Crown Court heard that Sir Matthew was immediately behind the university crews on a launch with umpire John Garrett.

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