Several wards were evacuated and 90 patients are being looked after elsewhere in the hospital.

The fire was discovered at 1700 BST on Friday when an ambulance crew saw smoke coming from the window of a surgical ward on the second floor.

Due to the prompt action of the fire service and staff, there was a rapid evacuation of patients

Paul Cronin, Warrington General Hospital

The hospital chief executive, Paul Cronin, said staff were organising accommodation for the patients who had to be moved.

"The fire was fairly localised, as I understand it, but acrid smoke that was associated with it quickly spread.

"Due to the prompt action of the fire service and staff, there was a rapid evacuation of patients into other areas of the hospital," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"We have a medical team that are assessing the patients who have been evacuated from the affected areas.

"We will be looking to accommodate patients within the non-affected areas of the hospital.

Smoke and water

"Those we cannot for medical reasons will be transferred to other hospitals, who are at the moment offering us assistance."

The hospital said there were no injuries during the fire.

One ward was severely damaged by fire and a number of others were affected by smoke and water.

A helpline for people worried about relatives has been set up on 01925 662328.