An man was arrested after an explosion destroyed a block of flats in South Norwood this morning.

Nineteen people were forced to flee their homes after the blaze in a three storey converted Victorian building in Oliver Grove, South Norwood.

Two adults and two children have been treated for smoke inhalation and one person was taken to hospital following the fire at just after midnight which caused the front of the building to partially collapse.

Eight adults and six children managed to escape the building before firefighters from Red Watch arrived at 12.30pm, other people were moved out of neighbouring properties.

One tenant, builder Artur Filarecki, 35, escaped the flames with his wife and three young children.

Mr Filarecki said: "From this moment on we don't know what is going to happen.

"We heard a loud bang and smoke came pouring in the room.

"There was a lot of panic all I was thinking about was getting my children out of the house.

"We were terrified, we heard neighbours screaming downstairs.

"We took the children from their beds and ran out to the garden.

"A lot of people were scared and screaming and the children were crying.

"It is a nightmare, we have nothing now, no clothes, no money, nothing, everything is gone.

"We are sleeping 10 people to a room.

A 51-year-old man handed himself in to South Norwood Police station after the fire took hold and was arrested on suspicion of arson.

A police spokeswoman said: “He will be interviewed in due course.”

Landlord of the property, Robert Ramlakhn, 64, said: “We had four tenants living on the third floor.

“I got a call at about 1am from the police telling me there had been an explosion at the house.

“I’m not worried about the house, I’m just glad all four families got out. By the grace of god nobody was hurt.”

The entire 175 year old Victorian flat conversion will have to be torn down due to the extensive damage to the property, sources said this morning.

The front of the top two floors have been destroyed in the blast, believed to have occurred at around 12.20am.

A construction worker called in to asses the building said: "The whole lot is going to have to come down.

"Its bowing so badly it could take out the next building too.”

Six flats in total were evacuated with most of the families staying with friends and family overnight.

A neighbour who did not want to be named said: "I couldn't believe it when I looked out the window and the saw the house on fire.

"I didn't hear the bang but I heard the sirens and at first, because we live so close to the police station, I just zoned out, but when they didn't go away and I heard the shouting I looked out.

"There were people everywhere standing and watching the fire.

"I heard everyone got out alright but apparently a couple of people are still in hospital.

"I have no idea what could have caused it."

Neighbour Beryl Fowler, said: “I woke up to a loud bang but I thought it was just people fighting again, kicking bins around.

“I looked out on the street and saw people across the road staring at the building then I saw the flames.”

Firefighters battled the blaze which was described as a major incident by a London Fire Brigade spokesman, until 4am.

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