'Major incident' as high winds battering Britain tear massive scaffolding from four-storey building and onto street near Hampstead Heath

• A witness at the scene said there was 'an awful lot of screaming' as the large structure collapsed on the street
• Staff at Royal Free Hospital told staff not to go home because of 'major incident' that occurred this afternoon
• Emergency services are currently at the scene in Hampstead Heath, London, near the hospital

High winds have torn the scaffolding from from the side of a four-storey building near the Royal Free Hospital in London this afternoon.

A witness at the scene said there was 'an awful lot of screaming' as the structure collapsed with 50 mph winds battering central London today.

Emergency services are currently attending at the incident in Hampstead Heath.

Staff at the Royal Free Hospital were told not to go home because of the 'major incident.'

Hilary Barnes told the Camden New Journal: 'I was going up towards to Hampstead and we stopped outside M&S – thank god.

The scaffolding, located near the Royal Free Hospital, in London, has collapsed, and according to witnesses 

Emergency services are currently attending at the incident in Hampstead Heath. Staff at the Royal Free Hospital were told not to go home because of the 'major incident.'

A witness at the scene said there was 'an awful lot of screaming' as the large structure collapsed on the busy London street - just yards from one of the capital's main hospitals

The scaffolding is thought to have been on the building pictured here, near the Royal Free Hospital

Firefighters at the scene of the scene of the incident assess the damage which occurred in London this afternoon

The Royal Free Hospital which is opposite the collapsed scaffolding has said they have not been required to treat any patients in relation to the incident

In the footage, emergency services can be seen attending the incident and urging people to step back from the mass of collapsed scaffolding

 A large group of people are gathered behind a large cordon'As we were waiting there this whole thing, it goes up the whole of the building, it started to very slowly go outward and then it buckled. It was extraordinary.

'There was an awful lot of screaming. Ambulances were charging down there within seconds. It looked like the wind called the polythene and the scaffolding came away.

'I am sure there will be casualties as it is so busy, with the schools and the Royal Free. There is no way any traffic is coming through there for a while.'

A spokesman for the Met Office said general conditions in the area showed a 55mph gust was recorded in the hour to 3pm, and other gusts between 45-50mph were recorded in the two to three hours around that.

Amon Amouzandeh, 37, was driving past the hospital on his way to visit a friend when he saw the scaffolding frame.

He told MailOnline: 'I turned the corner and saw in my wing mirror the scaffolding which had fallen into the street.

'It was pretty windy and must have just caught it [the scaffolding frame] at the wrong angle. But there were strong winds, no question about it.

'I can't believe it only happened ten minutes prior to my turning up. It had all been cornered off and the people were being controlled.'

A number of witnesses have reported the windy conditions in the area. The Met Office confirmed general conditions in the area showed a 55mph gust was recorded in the hour to 3pm, and other gusts between 45-50mph were recorded in the two to three hours around that

The footage shows emergency services ushering members of the public away from the scaffolding. There are not thought to be any injuries, but the nearby Royal Free Hospital is on standby

A police spokesman said no injuries have been reported.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called at 2:45pm today (7 March) to reports of an incident on Pond Street, Hampstead.

'We sent an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, a single responder in a car and an advanced paramedic to the scene. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team.

'We are working closely with other members of the emergency services and remain at the scene.' 

A spokesman for the Royal Free Hospital said: 'We are on standby following the collapse of scaffolding at a building opposite the Royal Free Hospital.

'To date we have not been required to treat any patients in relation to the incident.

'We are continuing with planned appointments although transport to and from the hospital is affected. 

'Please allow extra time for your journey if you have an appointment.'