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| Hundreds of firefighters battle blaze at south London museum | Hundreds of firefighters battle blaze at south London museum |
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| Hundreds of firefighters battled to contain a massive blaze after it engulfed a 107-year-old museum in London which is home to an extensive collection of artefacts from around the world. | Hundreds of firefighters battled to contain a massive blaze after it engulfed a 107-year-old museum in London which is home to an extensive collection of artefacts from around the world. |
| The emergency services evacuated 30 people from the Cuming Museum and Newington library in Walworth, south-east London, after a fire took hold in the roof before lunchtime. It was brought under control by early evening. | The emergency services evacuated 30 people from the Cuming Museum and Newington library in Walworth, south-east London, after a fire took hold in the roof before lunchtime. It was brought under control by early evening. |
| The museum, which was founded in 1906 with the Cuming family's private collection, is home to artefacts including objects from Roman London, Chinese ornaments and African tribal costumes and also contains a permanent exhibition on the history of Southwark. | The museum, which was founded in 1906 with the Cuming family's private collection, is home to artefacts including objects from Roman London, Chinese ornaments and African tribal costumes and also contains a permanent exhibition on the history of Southwark. |
| Thick plumes of black smoke rose over the neighbourhood where the museum is located while around 120 firefighters and some 20 engines took part in efforts to suppress the blaze. | Thick plumes of black smoke rose over the neighbourhood where the museum is located while around 120 firefighters and some 20 engines took part in efforts to suppress the blaze. |
| Fire brigade spokesman, Peter Critchell, said that firefighters would make efforts to salvage as many of the artefacts as possible. | Fire brigade spokesman, Peter Critchell, said that firefighters would make efforts to salvage as many of the artefacts as possible. |
| Flames had been seen licking through the roof of the building when the blaze was at its most fierce and the fire brigade used water jets from four corners of the building in their attempts to bring it under control. | Flames had been seen licking through the roof of the building when the blaze was at its most fierce and the fire brigade used water jets from four corners of the building in their attempts to bring it under control. |
| Southwark Council leader Peter John said that, while the council's primary concern was the safety of the public and staff, it was also worried about the museum's collection. | Southwark Council leader Peter John said that, while the council's primary concern was the safety of the public and staff, it was also worried about the museum's collection. |
| There were fears for the fate of much of the collection amid reports that part of it was stored in the roof of the building. | There were fears for the fate of much of the collection amid reports that part of it was stored in the roof of the building. |
| Dany Cotton, of the brigade, said that although the blaze was a large one they did not have any reports of injuries. | Dany Cotton, of the brigade, said that although the blaze was a large one they did not have any reports of injuries. |
| The museum's collection is described on Southwark Council's website as the result of over 100 years of Victorian-era collecting by father and son, Richard and Henry Cuming. It became increasingly popular with local visitors until the outbreak of the second world war, when it was hit by an incendiary bomb in 1941 and was closed temporarily. | The museum's collection is described on Southwark Council's website as the result of over 100 years of Victorian-era collecting by father and son, Richard and Henry Cuming. It became increasingly popular with local visitors until the outbreak of the second world war, when it was hit by an incendiary bomb in 1941 and was closed temporarily. |
| It opened again in 1951 and concentrated on displays of Southwark's history but also now contains wings devoted towards the Cumming family's collection, as well as temporary exhibitions. | It opened again in 1951 and concentrated on displays of Southwark's history but also now contains wings devoted towards the Cumming family's collection, as well as temporary exhibitions. |
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