Fire crews are tackling a large blaze "crawling up the cladding" of a building in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

The fire is said to have struck aĀ university student accommodation block.

Police have closed a number of roads around Bradshawgate in the town and have asked people to avoid the area.

Crowds of students have been evacuated from the building. It is not known if there are any injuries.

Images posted on social media show firefighters tackling flames coming out of the windows on the top floors of a building on Bradshawgate.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said 20 fire engines were at the scene and that the building was being evacuated.

One eyewitness described the fire as "crawl[ing] up the cladding like it was nothing".

Ace Love, 35, said: "The fire kept getting more intense, climbing up and to the right because the wind was blowing so hard.

"We could see it bubbling from the outside and then being engulfed from the outside.

The Herald:

"A lot of students got out very fast, someone was very distressed, the rest were on phones calling for help.

"The fire got worse and worse, to the point where you could see through the beams, it was just bare frame."

One student tweeted to say she had to leave her belongings "but the main thing is I'm out and I'm safe".

One eye-witness has saidĀ students wereĀ tears outside the burning building, believed to be The Cube student accommodation.Ā 

GMP Bolton North posted on Facebook: "We are currently dealing with an incident on Bradshawgate and have a number of road closures in place.

"Please avoid the area until further notice."

Incumbent Labour candidate for Bolton South East, Yasmin Qureshi, warned people to stay away from the area and said she would be in contact with the emergency services.

She said on Twitter: "There is an ongoing incident in #Bolton town centre and the emergency services are asking people to stay away from the area for the time being. I will be liaising with the police and fire services to stay informed of developments."