A FIRST floor flat in a three-storey Forest Hill house on Vancouver Road was badly damaged by fire this afternoon.

One person left the building before the fire brigade arrived while the second floor flat and part of the roof also suffered some damage.

Four fire engines, two from Forest Hill fire station and one each from Lee Green and Lewisham fire stations, went to the scene.

Twenty one firefighters and officers tackled the blaze. The brigade was called at 2.03pm and the fire was under control by 3.46pm.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.