UPDATE: Road reopened after 'punishing' Tolworth Broadway fire (From Your Local Guardian)

UPDATE: Road reopened after 'punishing' Tolworth Broadway fire

8:01pm Sunday 12th February 2012 in Kingston By David Lindsell

Police have re-opened the Tolworth Broadway after an earlier flat fire.

The road was re-opened at 7.30pm after being shut for nearly two hours while about 30 firefighters dealt with the blaze.

A four bedroom flat above Pound Value suffered 60 percent damage.

Six fire engines from Surbiton, New Malden, Kingston, Richmond and Sutton and around 30 firefighters were called to the fire at about 4.50pm.

London Fire Brigade said the fire badly damaged the third floor flat and five people from a property next door escaped before fire engines arrived.

Station manager John Lalor, who was at the scene said: "This was an extremely challenging incident. Gaining access was difficult and when firefighters entered the building they were met with thick, acrid, black smoke and punishing conditions.

"Our crews did an excellent job in bringing the fire under control.”

A woman was checked over at the scene, according to London Ambulance.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.