A lithium battery failure is believed to have sparked a devastating house fire in south west London.
The fire broke out at a semi-detached property on Mount Pleasant Road in New Malden at 9.36pm on Saturday (August 22).
The flames tore through the ground and first floors and damaged half the roof.
A neighbouring shed was also completely destroyed, and a small part of an adjacent house was damaged.
London Fire Brigade has said it is believed the blaze was caused by the 'catastrophic failure of a lithium battery pack used for an e-bike'.
An LFB spokesperson said: "This incident highlights the importance of working smoke alarms and heat detection.
"Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts, and we would urge everyone to make sure they have one fitted in every room where a fire can start except kitchens or bathrooms, where heat alarms are more appropriate."
Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines attended the scene.
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Crews from Surbiton, Kingston, Sutton, Wimbledon, and other nearby stations worked to bring the fire under control by 1am Sunday (August 23).
No injuries were reported, but a gas cylinder had to be removed and cooled as a precaution.
Station Commander Steve McGhie, who attended the incident, said: "The fire was producing smoke that affected the local area, residents nearby were advised to keep their windows and doors closed where possible.
"One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders was deployed as a water tower, allowing crews to tackle the flames from above."
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