Up to 30 pyjama-clad residents were evacuated from a New Malden block of flats after a fire broke out at the weekend.

Firefighters from New Malden were called at 11.50pm to reports of a blaze inside a flat in Charter Court in Linden Grove on Friday, November 22.

The night fire had started in a cupboard that held the electrical supply unit inside a ground floor flat – but the fire managed to spread to linen, sleeping bags and pillows stored in the same cupboard.

But the resident in the flat shut the door on it before evacuating the entire block.

Firefighter manager Ray Foster from New Malden’s green watch, said: “There were about 30 people evacuated from the building before we arrived.

"The gentleman did the right thing – he shut the cupboard door and the front door.

"That was really good. It was actually a serious fire but the gentleman managed to contain it. It was great to see that he had the foresight.

“The people from the flats were outside for about 30 minutes – it was absolutely freezing. Most of them were in their pyjamas."

London Ambulance attended the fire to check on the person who suffered from asthma and a baby whose family feared may have suffered smoke inhalation.

Were you evacuated? Call the newsdesk on 020 8744 4244 or email newsdesk@surreycomet.co.uk.