London Bridge station evacuated due to fire

London Fire Brigade confirmed it is investigating as delay warning issued

File: A railway worker walks along the platform of London Bridge Station, seen from the 69th floor of The Shard on October 26, 2012 (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

London Bridge underground station was closed and passengers evacuated this morning over reports of a fire at the major transport hub.

The London Fire Brigade confirmed it was investigating the incident, while witnesses described seeing a police cordon and at least four fire engines at one entrance.

A spokesperson for the fire brigade warned travellers to avoid the station "if possible". A statement said: "We're dealing with a small fire in the basement of London Bridge underground station. It's not on the train network."

Transport for London warned drivers to avoid the area with the road around the station "part blocked by emergency services responding to [a] fire alert".

TfL said the fire would cause delays

The main line station at London Bridge remained open throughout the incident, but delays were further compounded by an unrelated incident involving a passenger being taken ill on a train.

On Twitter, TfL's London Underground team confirmed that the station was closed "while we respond to a fire alert".

The station was reopened shortly before 11am, TfL said on Twitter, "following an earlier fire alert".