A massive fire has engulfed a lavish hotel loved by celebrities and members of the Royal Family.

       Pictures shared on social media show towering flames tearing through the roof of the Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, central London. A large column of grey smoke could also be seen emerging from the hotel adored by A-listers and royals.

       Some 125 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade rushed to the five-star hotel to tackle the blaze, with the service saying the building's extraction system was on fire.

       The blaze prompted the evacuation of around 100 people from the building. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, according to the brigade.

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