A neighbour raised the alarm when they peered over a garden fence and spotted a fire in next door's kitchen.

Firefighters are now urging people to make sure they have working smoke alarms after a house fire in Old Road in Crayford yesterday.

Part of the kitchen on the ground floor and part of the bathroom of the mid-terraced house were damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “The fire started in the bathroom and dropped down through a hole in the kitchen ceiling, setting plastic alight in the kitchen.

“There were a lot of possessions and clutter inside the flat which made it challenging for firefighters.

“Accumulating a lot of household items can cause fires to spread faster, especially when there are flammable items such as newspapers or cardboard. Exit routes can also become blocked, making safe evacuation more difficult.

“This incident serves as an important reminder to make sure you have working smoke alarms inside your home. There were no working smoke alarms fitted inside the house and the fire was discovered by a neighbour who saw a fire in the kitchen when they looked over the fence.

“Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts and we would urge everyone to make sure they have one fitted in every room where a fire can start and a heat alarm in the kitchen.”

The brigade was called at 5.53pm and the fire was under control by 6.49pm. Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Bexley and Sidcup fire stations attended.

The fire is believed to have been accidental, but the exact cause has been recorded as undetermined.

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