THESE are the dramatic photographs taken by a Local London reader of a blaze which threatened priceless artwork in London yesterday.

The fire badly damaged one of the Royal Academy of Arts' separate buildings, but all the works of art were believed to be safe.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said a third of the roof and a third of the first floor gallery in the empty three storey building, formerly the Museum of Mankind, had been damaged.

"Crews worked hard to bring the fire under control and stopped it from spreading to adjacent buildings," he said.

The Royal Academy's main site at Burlington House, where Modigliani and His Models is showing, was evacuated.

Firefighters remained at the site last night, but the Royal Academy was due to reopen today.

It's understood the damaged building was undergoing renovations and was due to show USA Today: New American Art from The Saatchi Gallery, from October 6.

The opening of the exhibition could now be delayed.

At 1.40pm, a fire alarm was triggered after the blaze broke out on the west corner of the roof.

Eight fire crews were called out to the Burlington Gardens building, in Piccadilly.

Another four crews were later sent as the fire raged through the building.

It was eventually brought under control at 5.35pm by at least 60 firefighters.

Plumes of smoke could be seen across the fashionable shopping area.

Nearby buildings, including the Royal Academy, were evacuated and the area was cordoned off.

Roads around the area were closed, brining chaos to much of the West End.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and the extent of the damage was being assessed.

Royal Academy acting secretary MaryAnne Stevens said: "The carefully coordinated Emergency Procedures of the Royal Academy and the effective management of the incident by the fire and police services appear to have limited the damage to one gallery and the roof.

"We would like to thank the fire and police Services for their dedicated attention."