These pictures show the devastation after sunlight hit a mirror and ignited bedding at a house in Shirley.

Flames tore through the first floor of the home in Peregrine Gardens yesterday morning leaving it badly damaged.

A woman in her 70s was in the house but managed to get herself out after hearing her smoke alarm go off.

She was checked over by an ambulance crew but did not need to be taken to hospital.

Video above: Watch Manager, Andy Vaughan-Davies, of the Fire Investigation Team, explains why these fires aren't a myth

London Fire Brigade fire investigator Mark Ross said the blaze happened because the concave mirror focused the sunrays onto the bedding.

He said: "The winter sun seems to be more prevalent this year so I’d ask everyone to keep mirrors, bottles of water and crystal balls out of direct sunlight.

"Thankfully the resident was alerted to the fire by her smoke alarm that our crews fitted two years ago.

"It is essential that everyone has at least one smoke alarm on every level of their home."

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Firefighters from Norbury and Addington were called to the fire at 11.22am yesterday and had it under control within 50 minutes.

The blaze comes less than two weeks after a dog died in a house fire caused by a Nutella jar reflecting sunlight on to a blind at a house in Twickenham.

The London Fire Brigade’s top three safety tips

  1. Keep mirrors and crystal or glass objects away from the sunny sills.
  2. Fit at least one smoke alarm per floor and test them every week to make sure they work and the batteries are not flat.
  3. If you have a fire, close the door on the blaze, get out stay out and call the brigade.