Moment devastating fire rips through roof of 160-year-old church as smoke seen for miles across UK city

THIS is the moment an inferno tears through a 160-year-old church causing “severe damage”. Smoke can be seen billowing into the sky as flames rip through the roof of St Andrew’s Church in Leicester. The aftermath of the blaze at St Andrew’s Church in Leicester Credit: SWNS Emergency services were called to St Andrew’s Church in Leicester after the fire broke out at 11.17pm last night Credit: SWNS Firefighters from eight crews rushed to the scene at around 11.15pm and battled the blaze throughout the night. The response has since been scaled back but the incident remains ongoing, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! It confirmed today that there had been no casualties and all people were accounted for. A spokesperson added that the fire at the church on Jarrom Street sent a “smoke plume over the city”. Firefighters warned locals to shut their windows and keep their doors closed as the smoke billowed. They also advised anyone travelling into the city to find an alternative route and avoid the area around the church. Fire crews are working with Cadent and Western Power to isolate gas and electricity supplies. The Anglo-Catholic parish church was constructed in 1862 and is part of the Diocese of Leicester. Most read in The Sun The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation from Leicestershire Police. An examination of the church will be carried out in due course, a spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the fire service said: “We would like to take this opportunity to ask members of the public to please be careful during this ongoing heatwave with anything that could start a fire, whether in the countryside, or in urban areas. “The warm, dry conditions mean fires can start easily and spread very quickly.” Comment now