Business owners were evacuated and traffic brought to a standstill after a fire in south Wimbledon this afternoon which "gutted" a flat and needed 21 firefighters to put it out.

UPDATE TUESDAY 2PM: Aya restaurant fire south Wimbledon cause revealed as community rallies to help family left homeless

Smoke was seen billowing from a window above the Aya Lebanese Restaurant in Merton Road, near the junction with Balfour Road, Wimbledon this afternoon.

Four fire engines and 21 fire fighters attended the blaze at approximately 2pm on Monday, October 19. 

No one was hurt in the fire, which caused damage to the flat above the restaurant and the roof of a single storey extension to the rear of the property.

Witness Ken O'Connor, whose business is based in Balfour Road, said that fire engines, ambulances and police cars had all attended the restaurant. 

He said: "The first we saw of it was in the flue from the restaurant at the back of the building. The flat above seems to have been practically gutted. 

"They evacuated us and the surrounding businesses."

Balfour Road is currently the centre of a dispute with the council, which is planning to enforce a temporary road closure in the area. 

From September 24: Anger at council's road closure plans in South Wimbledon

Mr O'Connor added: "If they had closed the road already, it would have made it much harder to get emergency services down here."

A spokesman from the London Fire Brigade said: "Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a restaurant with flats above on Morden Road in Merton this afternoon

"The fire damaged the first floor of the three storey building and the roof of a single storey extension to the rear of the property.

Wimbledon Times:

Several emergency vehicles attended the blaze in Merton Road

"The Brigade was called at 1400 and the fire was under control by 1552. Crews from New Malden, Purley, Wimbledon and Mitcham fire stations attended the incident.

"The cause of the fire is under investigation."

Drivers on Merton Road, Kingston Road and the surrounding areas have experienced severe delays, and Merton Road at the junction Morden Road is closed while firefighters work.

Did you see the fire? Tweet us @WimbledonNews or call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6337.