An “unknown smell” caused 11 people to be evacuated from their homes in Wimbledon Village last night.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus detected high level readings of the chemical styrene, which is commonly used in building insulation foam, in three houses in Marryat Road yesterday evening.

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters quickly detected the chemical and evacuated residents so were thankfully uninjured.

“Crews ventilated the property and people were able to go back to their homes.”

Firefighters were called to investigate the smell at 10.20pm, and remained in Marryat Road until 4am this morning.