One of the oldest buildings in Danish capital Copenhagen has been partially destroyed by fire today, with the huge blaze sending debris into the streets below and thick smoke into the air.

The Old Stock Exchange, or Børsen, was seen burning this morning - with locals taking to social media to share dramatic images of the damage to the landmark.

Copenhagen Police said on social media: "Due to a development in Børsen, we are currently extensively present in inner Copenhagen.

"Traffic towards the city on Knippelsbro is blocked. We expect the area to be cordoned off for a longer period of time. We encourage road users to find alternative routes."

Authorities have confirmed evacuations were underway; police said they were "now in the process of evacuating" staff from buildings including the nearby Finance Ministry towards the water.

Photographers caught locals looking on in shock as the blaze ripped through the building this morning

The historic site was undergoing renovation work when the inferno erupted earlier, with officials from the building's owner, the Danish Chamber of Commerce, scrambling to recover paintings from inside.

Local media have reported that nobody has been harmed by the blaze, but residents were quick to express their dismay at the damage to the iconic landmark - one compared it to the fire which engulfed Paris' Notre Dame cathedral in 2019, calling it "Copenhagen's Notre Dame moment".

The building dates back to 1625, and its iconic - yet now destroyed - crowned 'dragon-tailed spire' symbolised the three constituent kingdoms of Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

According to VisitCopenhagen, an official Danish Tourist Office website, the Old Stock Exchange had "many times been mysteriously spared from damage when fires have broken out in neighbouring buildings".

Dramatic footage from social media captured the moment the Børsen's spire toppledX