A man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after falling from a tower block balcony as a fire broke out at a tower block in Southfields.

Firefighters were called to Andrew Reed House, Linstead Way, shortly after 10.25pm on Saturday, June 28, after a blaze broke out on the ninth floor.

Six fire engines and 35 firefighters from Wandsworth, Battersea, Tooting, Wimbledon, Fulham and Hammersmith brought the blaze under control by 11.35pm.

London Ambulance Service treated a man who was found with serious injuries after falling from a balcony at the 15 storey building before the fire brigade arrived.

The man was treated by paramedics and London Air Ambulance crew before being taken to hospital.

It is not known which floor he jumped from or his current condition.

A further 200 people were evacuated from the building, but no other injuries were reported.

A Linstead Way resident who did not want to be named said: “We arrived home at around midnight and the entrance to Linstead Way was closed off by police.

“There were several fire engines and police vehicles and emergency service personnel. The fire was out by this time. The flat looked to be very badly burnt out.

"I spoke with people standing around. They reported a man had jumped from the flat and been taken to hospital by air ambulance."

Alan Beavis of Keevil Drive said buses were also diverted as roads were closed by the fire-fighters

He said: “The flat is in a really damaged state. I live in one of those blocks and it makes you think of your own safety.

“I was stunned at the damage. The windows have completely gone. It was not contained to one room. “

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire was under investigation.