Seven people have been taken to hospital – one in a critical condition – after a fire at Stevenage’s Woodlands View Care Home this afternoon (Saturday, February 3).

Emergency services including two air ambulances thronged to Magpie Crescent following reports of the blaze at 4.30pm.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokeswoman told The Comet that two people had been taken to Lister Hospital in a critical condition, but one of those has since been categorised as stable.

An update on its website reads: “A total of seven patients have been treated by ambulance crews and are being transported to Lister Hospital.

“One patient is believed to be in critical condition. The other six casualties are in a stable condition; one suffered burns and the others are being treated for smoke inhalation.

“A further 34 were assessed on scene and did not require any further treatment. We do not have any further casualty details.”

A care home spokesperson said the fire has been extinguished and it is now working with the emergency services to assess the situation.

They added: “Additional staff from across the organisation are now at the home to support all other residents and staff during this distressing time.

“The safety and wellbeing of residents is our number one priority. We are making arrangements to accommodate the evacuated residents to our sister homes within a 20-mile radius overnight as needed.

“We have also been keeping the families of all residents up to date with the latest developments.

“In due course, there will be a full investigation, however our immediate priority remains providing all support possible to everybody connected to the home.”