A man narrowly avoided serious injury after a discarded cigarette set his bedsit alight.

Four people were evacuated and half the bedsit was damaged in the blaze on Thursday, March 19.

Mark Hazelton, community safety group manager for London Fire Brigade, said: “The occupant was extremely lucky to escape uninjured as the fire completely destroyed his bed.

"Had the fire happened when he was asleep the outcome could have been very different. Fires caused by smoking materials including cigarettes, roll-ups, cigars and pipes, result in more deaths than any other type of fire.

“Everyone loves their bed, but people should avoid putting themselves at risk and never smoke in bed or last thing at night where they may fall asleep.”

The first occurred during a campaign by the fire brigade to stop people smoking in bedrooms.