Firefighters rescued nine horses from a stable fire in Orpington.

A van driver called the emergency services at around 4.30am this morning (February 18) after spotting smoke near Hewitts Road.

Crews from Orpington and Sidcup saved the beasts from the blaze at the isolated stable block.

Oddly enough when the sun came up they discovered five llamas next to the stables watching the commotion.

They were unhurt and not involved in the incident.

Eyewitness watch manager Allister Woods, from Orpington Fire Station, said: "When firefighters arrived we discovered there were nine horses in the stables, which were filling with smoke."

Luckily for the horses the fire started in the roof of the building.

Had it begun among the horses, they could have become panicked and been badly injured. 

MORE TOP STORIES  Watch manager Woods continued: "They were quite scared by the smoke, flashing lights and fire engine noise, but fire crews are trained to deal with fires involving large animals.

"We knew it would be better to get the smoke out than release frightened horses into the open.

"We put the fire out, ventilated the block and calmed the horses down.

"When it was light we discovered five Llamas were watching us next to the stables."

The cause of the fire is thought to be an electrical fault, which had activated the stable's fire alarm.

A total of four fire engines and 21 firefighters tackled the blaze, leaving the scene just before 6am.

Did you see what happened? Get in touch on Rebecca.Flood@london.newsquest.co.uk