A South End road was cordoned off last night after yobs set fire to a settee outside a family of four's home.

The family who live in Meadow Stile had left the unwanted furniture outside their house for Croydon Council to collect.

But teens were later seen setting it alight which caused smoke to enter the family's home.

Crew manager, Trefor Corfield of Croydon fire station, explained the brigade was called to the fire at around 8.29pm.

When they arrived at the address firefighters found the family and neighbours trying to fight the blaze themselves with buckets of water.

He added the family had not been harmed but had been left shaken by the incident.

"I would warn people who are leaving out rubbish for council collection to be careful. If possible don't leave it out until the date it is due to be collected. It does happen that items left outside homes are set on fire," he said.

Police are believed to be investigating the incident.