A Croydon tower block was evacuated last night after a fire engulfed a flat.

Four fire engines from Croydon fought the fire in Scarbrook Road, off High Street, which started just before 9pm.

It is not clear how the fire happened but it is thought to have started near and burnt through water pipes in the building.

Croydon firefighter Adam Ruffells, 31, entered the building in breathing apparatus.

He said: “About 10 per cent of the second floor flat was destroyed. It had burnt through some of the pipes so there was a lot of water in there.

“Luckily no one was injured and the block was evacuated before we got there.”