Candles in a teenager’s bedroom are being blamed for a house fire in Croydon last night.

Firefighters were called to Strathmore Road at about 8.10pm yesterday after tea lights placed on the floor near a bed caused the bedding to catch fire.

The family of five who were in the home at the time managed to get themselves out before crews arrived as their smoke alarms had gone off.

It took the firefighters about an hour to deal with the flames and they managed to stop it spreading from the 18-year-old’s bedroom.

The smoke alarms in the property had been fitted by London Fire Brigade and anyone who wants a home safety visit should call 08000 284428 or go to www.london-fire.gov.uk for details.