Around 150 people were evacuated from their homes after a huge fire broke out at a neighbouring building site.

London Fire Brigade said an estimated 125 firefighters were tackling the blaze in Peckham, south-east London, which is covering the size of half a football pitch.

Residents from flats in a series of nearby buildings three to four storeys high and a pub were moved out after fears the fire was spreading to the properties.

No casualties had so far been reported from the blaze, which was reported just before 4.30am.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said the building site in Carisbrooke Gardens was alight, with gas cylinders possibly involved.

“The fire seems to have spread very rapidly,” he said.

Twenty-five fire pumps were at the scene, along with officers from the Metropolitan Police.

London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Steve Turek said three sites were burning when firefighters arrived at the scene.

These were the building site and two nearby blocks of flats.

He said: “The ferocity of the fire was a challenge when we first arrived because all the buildings were simultaneously burning.

“Homes were a particular concern to us because residents would have been sleeping at home at that time of the morning.”

The fire spread across a road, destroying cars, he said.

Commander David Zinzan from the Metropolitan Police said 310 people were evacuated but only four were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Two of those were suffering from smoke inhalation, one of them a police officer.

A total of 20 ambulance crews were at the scene, London Ambulance Service said.

One eyewitness in the area, Lucy Pope, said the blaze was “very serious” with flames shooting at one point 20ft into the air from the flats.

She said dozens of people were sheltering away from the properties while firefighters tackled the blaze.

“People are scared, they are standing in bus shelters and there are babies who have been woken up,” she said.

“There are people looking very scared.”

Ms Pope said surrounding roads were blocked by fire engines, police cars and paramedics.

The Metropolitan Police said the fire had spread to “several” blocks of flats and other properties in Sumner Road and Rosemary Road.

Officials were helping to move the 150 evacuated people to emergency accommodation provided by the local authority, the force added.

Roads in the area have been closed.