A large fire on the site being developed for the 2012 London Olympics sent up a huge plume of thick black smoke which was visible for miles across the capital.

The blaze was on the western edge of the Olympic Park in Waterden Road, near Stratford, east London, on the site of an empty warehouse which was in the process of being demolished to make way for Olympics construction.

Early indications were that nobody was hurt in the incident and police said there was no explosion.

London Fire Brigade said 15 fire engines and 75 firefighters were sent to the scene.

A spokesman for the Olympic Delivery Authority said: "The ODA can confirm that a fire in east London is within the Olympic Park site.

"The fire is on the western edge of the Olympic Park on the site of an empty warehouse, behind the bus depot on Waterden Road."

He added: "The warehouse is in the process of being demolished. The London Fire Brigade is on site and the ODA's site staff are working closely with them."

Businesses in Waterden Road have been relocated recently to enable preparations for the Games to take place. The high-speed Channel Tunnel rail link runs nearby.

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