The spire of France’s famous Rouen cathedral is on fire, according to the city’s mayor.
Images posted on social media showed flames spewing from what looks like a scaffolding canopy near the top of the building, which is renowned due to its three towers spanning hundreds of years of architecture.
The gothic cathedral is widely known as it was painted multiple times by French impressionist painter Claude Monet in the 19th century.
“A fire has started on the spire of Rouen Cathedral. Origin unknown at this stage. All public resources are mobilised,” wrote the city’s mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol on X.
The cathedral has been evacuated and emergency services are on site, regional officials said.
They added the blaze started in a section where building works were taking place.
A security cordon has also gone up around the building.
Keir Starmer gives go-ahead for British missiles to be used in strikes against targets inside Russia
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Dire warnings over ‘enormity’ of Trump’s NATO plans
Israel-Hamas war: Dozens killed in Israeli airstrike outside school in Gaza
Television images on BFM TV showed a dark plume of smoke rising from the spire and people in the streets below looking up in horror.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.