Firefighters battle blaze at 'biggest cathedral in world'

Hundreds of firefighters are tackling a blaze in a cathedral which is claimed to be the largest in the world.

The fire, at the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine in New York, caused part of the structure's roof to collapse.

There are no reports of any injuries.

The blaze, which firefighters said was concentrated in the gift shop area of the Episcopal cathedral, is being fought by 50 fire crews using aerial platforms.

The area around the church has been evacuated.

"There were clouds of black smoke 40 feet high," said mechanic Juan Cruz, who saw the fire on his way to work at Columbia University. "The winds were blowing it all over the place."

The cathedral is on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The Encyclopedia of New York City lists the church as the largest in the United States.

The first stone was laid in 1892, but construction has never been completed, and work continues to this day.