A raging fire which tore through sheds and exploded gas cylinders has been described as “terrifying” by a resident who saw his back garden go up in flames.

Mark Kennedy, who saw his two sheds go up in flames in his rear garden in Peterborough Road, Mitcham, on Monday May 16, captured this video which shows the fire at its roaring peak.

Mr Kennedy said: “I was at home and looked out the window and just saw all these flames and I quickly realised there was no way I could put it out myself.

“I phoned the fire brigade and tried to help tackle it with a hose but it was no good.

“Then gas cylinders started exploding and I realised I could be at real risk. It was quite terrifying.“

Mr Kennedy said he believed the fire started in Poulter Park, which is adjacent to his rear garden, and spread to his two sheds and to four more sheds in each of his next door neighbour’s rear gardens.

He said: “The fire had come from from the fencing at the rear of the garden and spread to my toolshed. Four sheds were completely destroyed and two more suffered damage.

“A 300-year-old oak tree was also badly damaged and I hope it doesn’t have to be cut down now.”

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