Pregnant women evacuated after large fire breaks out at maternity hospital

Pregnant women are being evacuated from a maternity hospital after a large fire broke out.

Black smoke was seen over St Michael's Hospital in Bristol shortly before 16:30 BST. Firefighters from Avon and Fire and Rescue Service are attending.

Pregnant women and babies were moved outside of the building, supported by midwives who brought out milk and fruit.

Jess Hutchinson, 22, whose waters have broken, said it was "scary" hearing the fire break out on the roof - where a number of solar panels have been destroyed by the flames.

Matthew Burden, from Weston-super-Mare, was inside the maternity unit with his wife when the fire broke out.

He said she was in labour with their third baby and he was "really eager to get back" to her.

"I went out to get some food, came back and obviously the alarm went off," he said.

"They said all partners had to leave. Everyone was going down the fire exit quite fast.

"When we came out I saw black smoke, all up in flames."

He said he has spoken to his partner on the phone and said she is safe inside.

Some of the women have been taken to the Bristol University Life Sciences building.

Avon and Somerset Police said it is supporting the fire service at the scene.

In a statement on X, the force said: "St Michael's Hill is closed to vehicles and pedestrians and people are urged to avoid the area if at all possible."

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "We're currently responding to a fire on Southwell Street, Bristol.

"We encourage people to avoid the area while we deal with the incident. Further updates will be issued."

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said the trust is responding to "an incident" and will "provide a further update shortly".