Fire fighters are urging people to charge batteries safely after fire broke out at a flat in Colliers Wood in the early hours of Thursday morning (August 26).

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said they believed the fire "involved an e-scooter".

The brigade were called to the flat where the fire broke out on Garfield Road around 2.24am this morning.

They attended to find part of one room ablaze, eventually bringing it under control by 4.13am almost two hours later.

No-one is thought to have been injured in the fire, LFB said, but the brigade also issued another warning over the safe charging of lithium-ion batteries they believe may have played a role in starting the fire.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Lithium-ion batteries, which are often used for e-bikes and scooters can be susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used. Always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.

"Batteries can get warm during their use, so make sure to allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge as they could be more susceptible to failure. Batteries should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate.

"It’s a good idea to also ensure you have smoke alarms fitted in areas where e-bikes or e-scooters are being charged and make sure they are tested regularly."