Businesses are also being asked to close their windows due to the smoke

People are being urged to avoid an area of the city centre after a fire has broken out at an office building.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service crews are in attendance at the fire on Canons Way on the Harbourside. Businesses are also being asked to close their windows due to the smoke.

Videos from the scene show several fire engines in attendance, with large plumes of smoke rising into the air.

Do you have any pictures of the fire or know any more? If so, please send them directly to us on estel.farellroig@reachplc.com

This story is a liveblog. Please scroll down for updates.

Bedminster Fire Station has shared pictures of the aftermath of the fire and stressed the importance of fire doors to prevent fire spread.

Few shots of the aftermath of today's incident in the city. Show how important #FireDoors are. Compartmentation protect people and prevent fire spread. #fire #bangandpop #veryhot pic.twitter.com/J0PliQlus3

Staff at Bedminster fire station have tweeted photos showing the aftermath of the fire. The images show rooms, corridors and equipment damaged by fire and water.

They also show damaged fire doors, which appear to have contained the blaze somewhat. "Compartmentation protect people and prevent fire spread," a spokesperson tweeted.

Few shots of the aftermath of today's incident in the city. Show how important #FireDoors are. Compartmentation protect people and prevent fire spread. #fire #bangandpop #veryhot pic.twitter.com/J0PliQlus3

A fire service spokeswoman has revealed that thirty firefighters from nine locations attended the scene of the fire, in a total of fifteen vehicles.

Crews from Temple, Bedminster, Southmead, Avonmouth, Hicks Gate, Kingswood, Pill, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare were called to the incident.

Appliances in attendance included ten fire engines, a breathing apparatus support unit, a turntable ladder, a command unit and a welfare unit.

On their arrival, firefighters evacuated multiple people from the building, including one person who had become trapped in a lift.

"The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental," the spokeswoman added. "As at 3pm, four fire appliances remain on the scene making up equipment and ensuring the area is safe."

Canons Way in both directions has re-opened with traffic returning to normal after an earlier building fire from Harbour Way to A4 Anchor Road, Inrix reports.

Canons Way remains closed in both directions with slow traffic in the area. Here's the latest from Inrix:

Canons Way in both directions closed, slow traffic due to building fire from Harbour Way to A4 Anchor Road.

Firefighting operations still ongoing as we speak.Approx 30 breathing apparatus were committed with basement for firefighting and ventilation. No casualties and a successful evacuation. # #fire #Bristol # pic.twitter.com/YNcOVMlI2k

A Lloyds Banking Group spokeswoman has confirmed that the blaze began in a basement under their office, which is currently being refurbished.

"We are aware there was a fire earlier today at our Bristol Harbourside office that is currently undergoing refurbishment," she said.

"The fire has now been extinguished. A full investigation will take place to understand the cause of the fire and assess any damage to the building."

The spokeswoman added that no Lloyds staff were present today, and that those evacuated by firefighters were contractors.

Latest pictures from the scene show that dangerous clouds of smoke have now cleared.

Group Manager Ben Thompson, Avon Fire and Rescue Service, told Bristol Live: "W e've worked closely with Western Power who isolated the electrics quite quickly, and that enabled us to also apply some firefighting water to deal with the fire itself.

"But thankfully the fire is now well under control and compared with a couple of hours ago when we had significant smoke plumes, it’s now died right down so there’s much less danger to the general public in the area."

He added: "Crews are basically checking the rest of the building for smoke spread and ventilating the building to allow the occupants to go back in. But due to the nature of the building, it does take some time to remove all that residual smoke.

"It’s not a quick process because the number of exits is fairly limited, so we do expect to be here for some time. There will be a fire service presence here for at least a couple of hours yet."

Staff have been evacuated from an office building in the city centre after a fire broke out there this morning. Firefighters were called to the building before 10.45am today, setting up a cordon and urging nearby residents to close their windows against the smoke.

While the fire service has not confirmed the exact location of the fire, pictures from the scene appear to show the affected building is the Lloyds offices. Read more here.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said:

Crews from Temple, Bedminster, Avonmouth, Southmead, Kingswood, Hicks Gate and Pill are currently responding to a fire in an office building on Canons Way in Bristol City Centre.

As this incident is ongoing, we ask the public to avoid the area and local businesses to close their windows while our firefighters work.

All persons have been safely evacuated from the building and there are no casualties.

A Harbourside resident said: "The wind is blowing the smoke up towards Cathedral Walk/Millennium Promenade area.

"I can smell it as soon as I step out of my building. It's quite thick. Some of my neighbours say they can smell it at home."