Camden market fire has claimed at least 300 businesses

At least 300 businesses could be lost due to Saturday nights fire in Londons famous Camden Market.

London, Feb.11 : At least 300 businesses could be lost due to Saturday night's fire in London's famous Camden Market.

Sources have told The Telegraph that the damage bill for the fire could run into millions of pounds.

The market's iconic Hawley Arms Pub, a haunt of stars such as Amy Winehouse, could be demolished after the inferno, which needed more than 100 firefighters to bring it under control.

While Camden Market Holdings, which owns the site destroyed by the fire, vowed to rebuild as quickly as possible, the London Fire Brigade said it was too early to say whether it had been started deliberately or where it had started.

The paper quoted a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers as saying: "Given the extent of the damage and the significant number of closures the insurance claims are likely to run into millions. This sort of damage can be devastating."

Large sections of Camden High Street were cordoned off yesterday and about 450 people were evacuated from their homes as the fire took hold at 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, with authorities taking residents to a nearby leisure centre for shelter.

It took firefighters six hours to bring the blaze under control.

ANI