WESTMINSTER University was hit by two mysterious fires within 48 hours at the weekend.

The fires - on Friday night and Sunday night - caused "severe damage" to the campus in Watford Road, Harrow.

The massive blaze first ignited late Friday night and was under control by 5am Saturday morning.

Firefighters rushed back to the university less than 48 hours later when it mysteriously reignited.

No one was injured, but it's feared artwork created by students has been destroyed.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said it was "highly unusual" to have two "substantial fires" in the same area within such a short space of time.

He said: "Due to the size and severity of the blaze it is expected to take some time to establish the cause of the fire."

The campus reopened to visitors this morning, but a university spokesman said classes would be affected for media, arts and design students.

The first fire ignited at about 10.56pm on Friday night and at one point most of the 100 metre by 100 metre building was alight.

A 200 metre hazard was set up around the building after gas cylinders were discovered inside the burning art classrooms and workshops.

Nearby Northwick Park Hospital was under threat from the cylinders - which can explode like bombs.

Patients in the maternity and mental health wards were evacuated temporarily.

The blaze was eventually brought under control by 5.03am Saturday morning and the cylinders were cooled for 24 hours.

Road closures and traffic diversions caused chaos across surrounding areas and a reduced hazard zone remained in place around the workshop's unstable walls.

Some 48 hours later, firefighters were called back to the campus on Sunday night when a blaze ignited in another building at 10.01pm.

About 30 per cent of the three floor classroom block was damaged.

Crews managed to save about three quarters of the building and the blaze was brought under control by 2.10am this morning.

A Westminster University spokesman said the ceramics and fine arts studios, parts of the fashion area, workshops and some offices were damaged.

For security and insurance reasons, the entire J Block has remained closed.

This includes the undergraduate and school offices, Ceramic and Fine Arts studios, the News Room, and other labs including Animation, Illustation and Photoscience.

Vice Chancellor Dr Geoffrey Copland said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our staff and students. We hope to be able to provide a normal service from Monday morning."

Harrow Business School, Harrow School of Computer Science, the Learning Resource Centre, the Refectory and Halls of Residence will operate as usual.