A huge fire which erupted in east London after loud bangs were heard from all across the River Thames was part of filming for the BBC that got out of control.

The blaze sparked panic among locals with reports the emergency services were at the scene. Social media users who said they live near the site reported hearing loud bangs.

London Fire Brigade said: “The fire in #Silvertown followed a controlled explosion at a film set which spread out of control. Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire, which is now under control.

“Crews will remain on scene for the remainder of the evening.”

Images posted online showed flames and thick smoke billowing skywards on Saturday evening (August 31). The fire was understood to be around Trinity Bouy Wharf which is the site of an arts centre directly opposite London’s O2 Arena.

Social media posts from those living near the scene said a BBC shipping container was ablaze after “enormous” explosions. Others suggested a BBC lorry blew up.

X user Kieran McHugh wrote on the platform: “There have just been some absolutely enormous and very loud explosions next to my flat and now a @BBC shipping container is on fire, it’s carnage”.

Another X user posted footage and tweeted from an account named Aussierobbo and the Englishgent: “Sooo, just playing Fortnite and happen to be looking out the window… witnessed 3 consecutive explosions near London O2 on our side of the Thames. Not what we had planned for a Saturday evening. Sorry, not great footage”.

A third X user, tweeting from an account named Lady Amilia of Bebbanburg said: “Another fire outside my London flat…” They posted a photo of a red BBC World News lorry with a police van parked nearby.

The X user captioned that picture: “Before the explosion. Wonder what happened”. They went on to say there were helicopters, multiple fire trucks, four ambulances and police cars at the scene.

London’s Metropolitan Police tweeted just before 8.30pm that the reports were part of pre-planned filming.

Newham MPS said in an X post: “We are aware of reports of explosions being heard in the vicinity of the O2 in Greenwich.

“This was part of a pre-planned filming event in the Canning Town, E16 area. There is no risk to the public”.