Passengers jump for their lives as boat catches fire and explodes on the River Thames in London

Dramatic footage shows a boat engulfed in flames after it 'blew up' along the river Thames.

Witnesses say passengers jumped overboard in the incident in Twickenham, south-west London.

Flames can be seen billowing from the 20-foot river cruiser, that was completely destroyed in the blaze, as it sits near to the river bank.

Eight people were rescued in the water by a private boat before the fire brigade got there