Around 40 Firefighters and six fire engines were called to a fire at a semi-detached house on The Hermitage in Richmond yesterday.

According to emergency service reports - the Brigade was called at 5:22am on March 18 and the fire was under control by 8:18am.

Fire crews from Richmond, Kingston, Twickenham and Chiswick fire stations attended the scene.

The alarm was raised when a neighbour noticed a burning smell and called the Brigade.

The fire started in the ceiling of the bathroom and spread into the loft space of the house.

Firefighters led three people to safety.

The roof was destroyed by the fire and a small part of the second floor was also damaged.

The fire is believed to have been caused by heat radiating from a light onto combustible materials over a length of time.

There were no reports of any injuries.