London, Jan 16 (IANS): At least two people were killed and as many injured when a helicopter crashed into a crane on top of a building in London, The Sun reported.

The helicopter crashed into rush-hour traffic after bursting into flames when it smashed into the crane.

The London Fire Brigade said it had received multiple calls of the disaster in Vauxhall, BBC reported.

The chopper hit the structure by the St. George Wharf Tower development in Vauxhall, an inner city area, at 8 a.m. Then it turned into a "fireball" and "spiralled into the ground", said onlookers.

According to London radio station LBC, the driver of the crane was late for work - otherwise he would have been in the crane at the time of the crash.

Two people died at the scene and two had been taken to hospital, said Metropolitan Police.

A pall of smoke could be seen near the Thames river at the scene, which is close to the MI6 building and an under construction new American embassy.

Government sources, however, said the crash "has nothing to do with nearby MI6".

Reports say there was one person in the helicopter - believed to be an Augusta 109 - and that cars were damaged on the road. Other cars were seen on fire.