Tube fire tragedy remembered

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A fire which began beneath a wooden escalator claimed the lives of 31 people and injured about 60.

Breaking out at 7.30pm on November 18 1987, the blaze exploded into a fireball on reaching the ticket hall and it was nearly six hours before the fire was put out.

Among the dead was London Fire Brigade station officer Colin Townsley, who was one of six firefighters to be awarded the Certificate of Commendation.

He was in charge of the first fire engine to arrive at the scene and was on the station when the fireball erupted, engulfing the ticket office with smoke.

Recalling the scene later, rail passenger Peter Gidley said he was on the mainline station concourse and saw "thick black smoke belching from all the Underground exits".

He added: "If hell exists, it was on display that night."