The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has issued a reminder of its lithium battery safety advice following a fire at a block of flats on Paragon Grove in Surbiton yesterday (Tuesday, 23 September).

Part of a four roomed flat on the second floor was damaged by the fire. A small part of a four roomed flat on the first floor was damaged by water. One woman left the building before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and was caused by the catastrophic failure of a lithium battery in a power bank.

An LFB spokesperson said: "Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it's important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.

"You should unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.

"Batteries can present a fire risk if they're over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it's really important to protect them against being damaged too.

"Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as this can increase the chance of damage to cells."

Control Officers took the first of three calls just after 4pm on Tuesday and mobilised four fire engines and around 25 firefighters to the scene from Surbiton, Kingston and New Malden fire stations. The fire was extinguished by 5.43pm.