More than 80 people have been hurt, several seriously, after part of the ceiling at London's Apollo Theatre collapsed during a show tonight.

The Shaftsbury Avenue theatre was showing a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.

The play, which opened last year, is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Oxford author Mark Haddon.

The novel, which came out in 2003, focuses on a teenage boy from Swindon with Asperger's Syndrome, and was published by Beaumont Street-based David Fickling Books.

It is understood that the plasterwork ceiling collapsed at the 775-seat theatre at about 8.15pm.

Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron has tweeted that he is grateful for the fast work of the emergency services and that he is being kept updated.