Three people including a three-year-old boy made a lucky escape from a house in Coulsdon which became filled with poisonous gas.

Fire crews from Wallington and Purley fire stations were called to reports of a carbon monoxide alarm going off in Placehouse Lane near Coulsdon College at about 9pm yesterday.

On their arrival they found the family in the street suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide inhalation, with the toddler being violently sick.

A spokesman for Wallington fire station said it was very likely the gas leak had triggered the sickness.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and a representative from the local gas board were also called to the scene.

No one was seriously injured and the house was later made safe.