Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The building has been evacuated and trains have been cancelled

A huge fire that closed Nottingham railway station is being treated as arson.

At its peak 10 fire crews were tackling the fire, which began at about 06:30 GMT.

Flames were seen coming from the station's roof and smoke filled the foyer, prompting the building's evacuation.

Supt Sandra England said: "We now have reason to believe the fire may have been started deliberately."

She added: "Cordons remain in place around the area and trains are not running. It is likely the station will remain closed for the rest of the day."

Incident commander Bryn Coleman, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, said crews faced "arduous" conditions when they arrived to tackle the "severe" fire that spread across the concourse.

He described the operation as "difficult and protracted".

Image copyright Nottingham Fire and Rescue Image caption Nottingham Fire and Rescue tweeted a picture from inside the building

He added the fire was believed to have started in a toilet.

The fire service confirmed in the early afternoon that a joint investigation with the British Transport Police was already under way.

At 17:00 GMT crews were still at the scene dealing with the fire, which has been brought under control.

British Transport Police said it was an "ongoing incident" and said the station was "unlikely" to be open by Saturday.

Supt Sandra England said: "Even if some trains are running by tomorrow, there will be an extremely limited service with many delays, cancellations and overcrowding."

She advised football fans travelling to and from Nottingham for matches on Saturday not to attempt to travel by train.

East Midlands Trains said while no-one was injured and everyone was accounted for, all services, including trains to London St Pancras, Liverpool, Leicester and Norwich, have been disrupted.

Kirsty Derry, deputy managing director of Stagecoach, East Midland Train's parent company, apologised for the disruption but said they were "really optimistic" about services at the station on Saturday but warned there would be "gaps".

About 4,600 passengers arrive at Nottingham station during each weekday morning between 07:00 and 10:00, according to the Department for Transport.

The station has recently undergone a £50m redevelopment, incorporating a new tram bridge, including the restoration and upgrade of its Edwardian grade II listed front building.

Image copyright PA Image caption People were evacuated from Nottingham station

Eyewitness Sarah McMullan said she saw smoke coming from a toilet at the station's car park.

"You don't think much of it when there's a little bit of smoke and police already there, but then we were evacuated," she said.

"It was pretty frightening to see how quickly a fire can grow. You can see billowing smoke and flames above the roof on the far side."

BBC Radio Nottingham's Andy Whittaker said he saw "thick plumes of black smoke" coming from the station.

He said many people were left waiting outside the building after being told to leave.

Image caption Smoke filled the foyer at the station after the fire broke out

Dr Remigius Ilione, 49, said: "I drove into the car park and I could already hear the fire alarm.

"The smoke was so thick that you could not see in front of you."

Queens Road and Carrington Street were closed in both directions, which created heavy traffic on surrounding routes, but while there have been partial reopenings, disruption remains.

There have been reports of 40-minute delays on bus services.

Trams into the city were also disrupted by the fire and a separate incident, but began to run past the station at about 14:30 BST.

Image caption Jo Johnson hoped the station will be up and running again in "a few days"

Visiting the station, Transport Minister Jo Johnson said: "It has been a devastating incident, but it has been an extraordinary response from the emergency services.

"We saw an exemplary evacuation this morning. There were about 200 or 300 passengers at the start of the rush hour who were evacuated safely.

"As far as we can tell no-one has been hurt in the incident and we really do owe a huge debt of gratitude to the emergency services. East Midlands Trains has done a great job ensuring no-one was hurt and everyone was evacuated safely. "

He added that he hoped the station should be back up and running in the "next few days".</s>Trains in the East Midlands are severely disrupted due to a fire at Nottingham railway station this morning.

Ten fire engines and 50 firefighters are at the scene and the railway station is closed after being evacuated.

The fire is believed to have broken out at around 6.30am - with emergency services closing a number of roads around the area.

An East Midlands Trains spokesman urged people not to travel to the station as no transport was available.

He said: "Please do not travel to Nottingham station this morning as trains will be unable to run and we are unable to provide road transport to/from the station.

"At present we do not have a firm estimate as to when Nottingham station will be able to re-open however we expect trains to be disrupted on all routes through Nottingham for the whole of Friday January 12."

A Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "The incident at Nottingham Train Station is now a large incident.

"There are now ten fire engines in attendance and approximately 50 firefighters fighting the fire at Nottingham train station.

"Crews working hard on the scene to resolve this incident - thank you for your patience.

"All persons are accounted for at the scene and understood to be no injuries as it stands - firefighters still working hard."

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage - but trains are not expected to start running until at least midday and disruption is expected on railway services in the area for the rest of the day.

A National Rail spokesman said: "Emergency services are dealing with a fire incident at Nottingham, causing major disruption to trains at the station.

"At present, the station has been evacuated and emergency services are on on site.

"Whilst the station remains closed, no trains will be able to run to or from the station.

"East Midlands Trains are advising customers not to travel to or from Nottingham station this morning.

"There is no firm estimate yet of how long disruption will last but it is likely to continue until at least 12:00."

Nottinghamshire Police said they had closed a number of roads around the area.

A spokesman said: "The roads around Nottingham Railway Station have been closed because of a fire at the station.

"Station Street, Carrington Street and Queen's Road have been closed by Nottinghamshire Police while Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and British Transport Police deal with the incident, which was reported at around 6.30am."

A British Transport Police spokesman added: "We're on scene at Nottingham Train Station assisting Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service as they deal with a fire in the main concourse of the station.

"The station has been evacuated and no trains are running."</s>Fire crews have been called to a major fire at Nottingham railway station.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service tweeted that eight appliances were on the scene with crews from London Road, Arnold, Carlton, Highfields and Mansfield fire stations were in attendance.

The station has been evacuated, and smoke can be seen billowing from the building.

East Midlands Trains, who operate services from the station, said no trains are able to run to or from Nottingham. People are now being advised to avoid the area.

A post on the East Midlands Trains website read: "There is a fire at Nottingham station. This is disrupting our trains on all routes through Nottingham.

"At present the station has been evacuated and the fire services are on site.

"The station is currently closed and all of our services cannot run to/from Nottingham.

"We are currently looking at alternative arrangements to keep you on the move."
A major fire engulfs parts of Nottingham station, United Kingdom.