Four people have been seriously injured in a fire at a sheltered housing complex in Nijmegen, police said on Friday.

In total, 45 people were injured and 11 have been taken to hospital, many suffering from the effects of inhaling smoke.

The fire appears to have broken out in the complex’s cafeteria, close to the entrance to the apartment block.

Firemen originally thought part of the roof had collapsed in the blaze but that later transpired not to be the case, officials told broadcaster Nos.

Some residents were removed from the complex in their nightclothes by a crane, which picked them up from their balconies.

Several have been taken to another part of the complex on the other side of the street, while around 40 were taken by bus to a nearby community centre. Around 50 people are thought to live in the complex.

A number of pets were also taken to safety, broadcaster Nos says.