A family of four had to flee their old Malden home after a fire broke out last night.

The ground floor bedroom of a house in Kingshill Avenue, near Motspur Park, was wrecked after the fire started at approximately 8.30pm on Tuesday evening.

Two fire engines from New Malden fire station rushed to the scene after a smoke alarm was set off to warn the family of the danger.

Firefighters believe the blaze was caused after clothes hung up next to an electric lamp caught fire after being left unattended for several minutes.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: "Once again this just goes to show how important it is to have a properly working smoke alarm fitted at your home."

"It is believed that around 20 per cent of the house was damaged but this could have easily been more if we had not been alerted sooner."