20 residents were evacuated, as a blaze tore through a car workshop in Thornton Heath in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Over 60 firefighters were called to a car workshop in Chandler Court near Bensham Lane, after reports of a fire in the early hours of October 6.

Eight fire engines from stations including Croydon, Norbury and West Norwood fire stations were are at the scene.

Most of the workshop has been damaged in the blaze and twenty residents were evacuated from nearby properties as a precaution.

Station manager Gary Pryce who was at the scene said: “At the height of the fire, the entire workshop and the cars inside the building were alight

“Crews had to work quickly to stop the blaze from spreading to a scaffolding yard and nearby houses.

“Our 999 control operators took more than 17 calls about the fire which was initially very visible.”

The Brigade was called at 2355 and the fire was under control at 0301.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.