What started as a bin fire led to residents being evacuated from their homes amid fears of a gas explosion in Tooting last night.
Eardley Road was closed for almost four hours overnight after a fire in a paladin bin ruptured gas meters fixed to the wall of an adjacent block of flats.
The fire started at about 10.30pm, close to the railway arch in Eardley Road.
Firefighters from Tooting extinguished the fire and closed the road in both directions while the gas was switched off.
A spokesman for Tooting fire station said: "There was gas pouring out and there was a danger of an explosion.
"We were standing by while the gas board fixed the problem."
Six flats were evacuated as a precaution.
The road was re-opened by 2am.
The cause of the bin fire is believed to have been a discarded cigarette.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here