Two adults and a child required treatment after 16 people were evacuated when a fire broke out at a maisonette in Bexleyheath.

The London Fire Brigade said 58 firefighters were sent to the property above a row of shops in Pickford Lane just before 11.30pm on Thursday (April 12).

The blaze had engulfed much of the maisonette and had also spread to the roof of neighbouring properties.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "Two adults and a child left the property before the brigade arrived and were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service.

"A total of 16 other people evacuated from neighbouring properties before the brigade arrived.

"Most of the maisonette on the first and second floor was destroyed by fire. The fire also damaged the roof of the maisonette and its neighbouring properties.

"Fire crews from Bexley, Erith, Plumstead, Sidcup, East Greenwich, Eltham and Orpington fire stations were at the scene."

The incident was under control shortly after 2.30am this morning (April 13) and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.