Firefighters dramatically escaped a collapsing roof as they battled a house blaze sparked by a suspected cannabis farm this morning.

Crews said they were "lucky" to survive as flames destroyed the upstairs rooms the Addiscombe Court Road, East Croydon, to which they were called at 1.20am.

They also hailed a "mystery hero" who kicked down the terraced house's front door and searched for people inside. 

The building was empty when the fire took hold, but a tenant returned while firefighters fought the flames.

Police, who had been been alerted to drugs equipment found inside the house, arrested a 44-year-old man at the scene.

Two fire crews from Croydon station, two from Norbury, one from Woodside and a crew with an aerial ladder platform from Wimbledon all attended the fire and remained until 7am.

They were praised by Croydon's station manager for saving two neighbouring houses, in which a family with young children and an elderly couple were sleeping, from the fire.

Firefighter John Plant, 47, of Croydon station in Old Town, was one of two upstairs when the roof began to collapse.

He said: "You are always looking out for the signs, like the timber warping. The roof was starting to collapse and it was getting dangerous so we got the order to get out of there. 

"We backed up down the stairs and not long after that the roof came down. We had a lucky escape."

Mr Plant, who has been a firefighter for 25 years, said the two neighbouring houses were also fortunate not be damaged.

He said: "Had the fire been going longer unattended or perhaps if there had been a less experienced crew it may have been much worse."

He also praised the bravery of a passer-by, who has not been identified but is thought to be a man in his fifties.

He said: "A member of the public was really the hero of the day.

"He kicked the door down and checked all the rooms to make sure there was no one inside and then when we got there he was waiting outside to tell us.

"Obviously we had to check as well, but he was right. He was a mystery hero."

Fire crews were due to return to the house this morning to continue damping down and begin investigations into the cause of the blaze.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the force had been called at 1.13am after London Fire Brigade "discovered drugs paraphernalia inside the address".

She added: "Officers attended and cannabis plants were found inside.

"A 44 year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to custody. He has since been bailed to a date in mid-February pending further enquiries." 

Did you see the fire? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6351 or email chris.baynes@london.newsquest.co.uk