Nine people have been injured after a boat caught fire on the River Thames in Wiltshire, police have said.

Wiltshire Police said officers responded to “a reported fire on a residential boat in the River Thames near Lechlade just before midday on Saturday”.

“Nine people sustained injuries and were transported to hospital. A section of the river was closed and enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.”

Pictures of the incident published online showed dark grey smoke pouring from a small white vessel engulfed in flames next to the riverbank amid reports the boat had “exploded”.

An air ambulance was also pictured on the scene, along with police, firefighters and paramedics.