Over 40 firefighters were called to a derelict bank in South Wimbledon after squatters living there managed to set fire to the building.

The first floor was damaged in the blaze on March 5, and around 17 people fled the building before the fire crew arrived.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Wimbledon, Tooting, Wandsworth, Norbury and West Norwood attended the fire at the derelict bank on Morden Road.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On behalf of the South Wimbledon community, I would like to thank the <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonFire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LondonFire</a> Brigade for swiftly getting the fire 🔥 under control at the disused Barclays Bank on Morden Road.</p>— Cllr Nigel Benbow (@nigelbenbow) <a href="https://twitter.com/nigelbenbow/status/1235603609875894277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The call was put out at 2:36pm, and the fire was under control by 5:43pm, thankfully with no injuries.

London Fire Brigade said the fire was believed to be accidental, caused by a duvet left too close to a halogen heater.