Huge fire reduces Dunkirk migrant camp to 'ashes'

Hundreds of migrants have been evacuated after a huge blaze ravaged their camp, reducing it to "a heap of ashes".

The fire erupted at the Grande-Synthe migrant camp outside the northern French city of Dunkirk, hours after clashes between up to 150 Kurds and Afghans.

Riot police moved into the camp - home to around 1,500 people - to break up the trouble. Five people were injured, leaving three of them in hospital with knife wounds.

Officials have linked the fire to the fighting and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the blaze - the flames of which were visible from several miles away.

"There is nothing left but a heap of ashes," said Michel Lalande, chief of France's Nord region.