More than 300 passengers were evacuated via emergency chutes from a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft when it caught fire at Manchester Airport in northern England on Tuesday, emergency services said.

Three people were taken to hospital but the extent of their injuries was not immediately known. Several more were treated on the scene for minor injuries.

The Boeing 777, flight PK 789 with 323 passengers and 12 crew, had landed for refuelling after flying in from Karachi en route to Toronto.

Airport authorities said it suffered a small undercarriage fire while taxi-ing.

"The plane was not on a runway and the fire was put out by the airport's fire service," a spokesman said.

Airport buses picked up passengers and crew and took them to one of the terminal buildings.

Greater Manchester Police said they were alerted to the fire at 0915 GMT, shortly after the plane touched down. "We understand the fire was connected with overheating," a spokesman said.