The Met Police and London Fire Brigade (LFB) investigations at the site of Tuesday's Kingston Ancient Market fire are now complete and the area cordoned off has been reduced, impacting fewer local businesses and traders.

Businesses and traders outside the cordon are now able to open.

On Tuesday morning (6 October), eight people were evacuated from their homes after a blaze ripped through Kingston Market Place, which dates back more than 800 years.

The LFB said four fire engines and around 25 firefighters rushed to the scene in Kingston Town Centre, after the fire was reported at 4.33am.

No injuries were reported, but several market stalls were destroyed and the frontages of neighbouring businesses damaged.

The Met Police told Nub News on Wednesday (7 October) that it is not treating the incident as suspicious and that it will provide no further updates.

The council said on Thursday that it is working with the market operator, Between the Bridges, to look at all options to support traders impacted by the fire, as well as continuing to support all traders and businesses in the area.

The leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch said the priority now is supporting the recovery.

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He added: "We're working as hard as we can to get the site safe and secure, and to support traders to get back to work as soon as possible.

"I'm really pleased that the market is reopening and stallholders and businesses not directly impacted by the fire have been able to start trading again.

"Our priority now is to continue to support those affected and help ensure our much-loved market recovers as soon as possible."

Nub News has contacted Between the Bridges for comment.

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