A woman in her 80s has been taken to hospital this morning after a house fire in Martin Way, Morden.

The London Fire Brigade and Met Police were called to the road at 8.01am to reports of a fire. 

Police have arrested one man on suspicion of arson and he is currently being treated in hospital for smoke inhalation. 

It is thought the woman is being treated for shock. 

The brigade was called at 7.58am and the fire was under control by 8.45am.

Fire crews from New Malden, Sutton and Wandsworth fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Half of the ground floor and part of the first floor were damaged by the fire.

Bus routes 163, 164, 293, and 413 were on diversion at Crown Lane but traffic is now back under traffic light control.

Police attended and have now left, one fire engine remains at the scene. 

Jill Porter, financial administrator for nearby Busy Bees nursery, said: "We were alerted to the fire at 7.50am. I called the fire brigade and we evacuated all children from the nursery.

"We were having ‘princess and superhero’ day and they were dressed as superman and princesses.

"The fire had really taken hold by the time we were made aware of it. We reacted calmly and quickly until we were given the go-ahead. We were evacuated for 40-45 minutes.

"The fire started two doors away in the front part of the building. It’s a semi-detached residential house.

"There were 20 students, and up to 50 people in total, including staff, outside the nursery. I dialled 999.

"There were about five engines. One of the parents said there was smoke coming from an adjoining building, and we could see flames from the nursery’s garden."

Nursery manager Louise Umpelby said: "I was called by a member of staff, who said the neighbour’s house was on fire. I went to the garden at the front of the nursery, where I could see that the downstairs window was open, so I figured she was home.

"I knocked on her door, and had been banging on her door for a while, when the window popped and she ran out in her dressing gown.

"The downstairs window cracked and shattered due to the heat. The fire was so bad and her house was directly next door, so we needed to get her out of there and wake her up quickly.

"It was at about 7:55 or 8:00 by the time we got her out."