A woman died after a blaze at a block of flats in Marks Gate last night.

Firefighters were called to a 17-storey building in Hatch Grove just after 8pm on Wednesday, March 17, where a fire had broken out in a flat on the seventh floor.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Firefighters were called to a 17-storey building in Hatch Grove, Marks Gate.Firefighters were called to a 17-storey building in Hatch Grove, Marks Gate. (Image: Google)

About 50 people fled the building before the fire brigade arrived, but one woman died at the scene.

A Met spokesperson said the woman is believed to be in her 20s, her next of kin have been informed and police are making enquiries into the circumstances.

Most of the three-roomed flat was damaged by the fire, which was under control at 9.16pm.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the brigade and the Met.

Five fire engines and 35 crew members from the Dagenham, Romford and Ilford stations attended the scene.