A HUGE fire has engulfed an abandoned college used as a BBC filming location.
The blaze at Henley College in Coventry broke out at around 7.15pm last night, with 75 firefighters tackling the inferno at its peak.
The blaze erupted at Henley College at around 7pm last night[/caption]
Much of the former institution has been destroyed[/caption]
75 firefighters tackled the blaze at its peak overnight[/caption]
The building has not been used as a college for three years but has since been a filming location for the BBC drama series Phoenix Rise.
Plumes of thick black smoke could be seen from miles away as around 45 firefighters continued to limit the flames this morning.
Residents were told to keep their windows and doors shut as the ferocious blaze chucked dark smoke into the skies above the city.
Some residents even lost power overnight, with West Midlands Fire Service confirming electricity supplies were restored around five hours ago.
A nearby electrical substation had been temporarily shut down overnight in order to “ensure the safety of the site and substation”, West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said.
Abu Hassan, 26, a data analyst who attended Henley College and lives nearby, took photos and videos of the blaze yesterday and today.
He said: “As I came home, the smoke was right near my house and the area was being cordoned.
“I realised the college was on fire.
“It’s a big college for everyone in the community – nobody in the area hasn’t been through it in some way.
“There was a big response from emergency services – they worked all through the night.
“But they were very respectful and tried to be quiet.”
WMFS said today 70 per cent of the derelict college had been affected by the fire.
Terrifying drone footage has also revealed the sheer extent of the devastation, as smoke continues to rise this morning.
Much of the roof appears to be entirely collapsed, with blackened and disfigured metal strewn across the college’s buildings.
In its most recent update at 10am, WMFS said: “Ten fire engines and two hydraulic aerial platforms remain at the scene as we look to surround and extinguish the fire fully.
“Henley Road remains closed to vehicles.
“Fire Investigation officers will be arriving at the scene shortly to begin their work.”
Proposals to redevelop the site into housing had been submitted last year, although these were later rejected by council officials.
Councillors instead opted for the area to be used for a new secondary school to assist with the growing need for places, reports the Coventry Telegraph.
This comes just one day after dozens were evacuated from their homes following a fire at an electrical substation in London.
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An aerial view of Henley College on fire[/caption]