A man armed with a knife engaged in a dramatic stand-off with police inside the burning home of a Sutton councillor in the early hours of this morning.

Police were called to a house on fire in Sandy Lane South, Wallington at 3.13am, to find the armed man refusing to come out.

Once fire fighters had the flames under control, police entered and building and found a man in the bathroom.

A 40-year-old was arrested for arson with intent to endanger life.

Two other men, one of whom is believed to own the house, had left the building of their own accord and one was taken to hospital suffering with minor burns and smoke inhalation.

The semi-detached house is the home address of Sutton Liberal Democrat councillor Hamish Pollock, a former deputy-mayor of Sutton and secondary school governor, with two teenage children.

He was outside the house this morning and declined to comment before entering the property.

Your Local Guardian: Between 10-15 emergency service vehicles were at the property at the height of the incident.

Three of the windows at the front of the house were smashed, although it is not known if they were damaged during the stand-off or by firefighters.

A neighbour, woken up around 2.45am, saw smoke coming out from the windows and fire services spraying water through.

She said: "It's awful what has happened, but them being safe is all that matters."

Did you see what happened? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6359 or email chris.caulfield@london.newsquest.co.uk.