Residents flee homes as fire engulfs restaurant and flats in Sidcup

Residents have fled their homes after a blaze engulfed a restaurant and a number of flats.

Firefighters were called to St James Way in Sidcup, Kent, at 4.30am today after flames tore through the three-storey building.

Sixteen people escaped before fire crews arrived, and there are no reports of any injuries, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. The fire is now under control.

The building is believed to include a restaurant on the ground floor with a number of flats on two floors above it.

An LFB spokeswoman said when firefighters arrived the ground floor of the building was "100% alight", while the first floor was "50% alight".

Eight fire engines attended the scene, and fire crews used three jets to tackle the blaze as well as thermal imaging cameras, LFB said.

PA