A woman escaped her home with singed hair after a huge collection of cardboard boxes ignited at her home in Wimbledon this morning.

More than 20 fire fighters fought for an hour and a half this morning to contain the blaze at a two storey terraced house on Hardy Road, Wimbledon.

The woman, in her 60s, had got out of the house before fire fighters from Wimbledon, New Malden, Mitcham and Tooting stations arrived.

She was taken to hospital with singed hair and smoke inhalation.

The fire, which began on the first floor of the house, destroyed a large amount of the first floor.

But firefighters, who were called at 9.49am, less than an hour after completing a 24 hour strike, were able to save 50 per cent of the roof and 75 per cent of the ground floor from being destroyed.

The fire was declared under control at 11.20am.

Wimbledon Times: Firefighters are at the scene.

Did you see the fire? Contact the newsdesk 020 8722 6336 or email: nhitchens
@london.
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