More than 100 people were evacuated and two taken to hospital as a fire engulfed a block of flats.

The London Fire Brigade said it is carrying out a “significant search and rescue operation” after being called to the blaze in Freshwater Road in Dagenham, east London, at 2.44am on Monday.

Forty-five engines and around 225 firefighters are responding to the blaze that has engulfed the whole mixed-use commercial and residential building, including scaffolding surrounding the property and the roof, the fire service added.

The building was undergoing “remedial” work to remove and replace “non-compliant cladding” on the fifth and sixth floors containing flats, according to a planning application document.

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said the London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident to allow the service to focus its resources on the fire.

At around 7.30am, the fire service said the blaze was producing heavy smoke and advised local residents to keep windows and doors closed

New drones are being deployed to tackle the blaze, along with 210ft (64m) and 105ft (32m) turntable ladders that are being used as vantage points to assess the scene and to douse the flames with water from above, Mr Roe said.

Crews from Dagenham, Ilford, Romford, Barking and surrounding fire stations are in attendance at the scene, while Freshwater Road remains closed to traffic.

The LFB are urging people to avoid the area where possible.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.