Five people were forced to flee through a first floor window after an Erith chip shop caught fire on Sunday afternoon.

More than 15 firefighters from Orpington and Sidcup stations were called to battle the blaze at Hooked Fish & Grill in Colyers Lane just before 4pm on June 2.

MORE: Plumstead man to appear in court charged with carrying this HUGE sword

Five people who were in an upstairs flat at the time escaped the building before the engines arrived using a builder's ladder.

Three people were treated at the scene by paramedics but were not taken to hospital.

MORE: Teenager and child injured in four car crash in Elmstead Lane, Chislehurst

A fridge and two fence panels which were in the rear garden of the property were destroyed by the fire.

Staff at the restaurant have since released a statement through Instagram regarding yesterday's fire in which they thanked the community for their help.

It read: "We would like to apologise to all our customers for closures today due to unforeseen circumstances.

"Unfortunately, our premises caught fire this morning.

"We would like to thank everyone in the community and our locals for the tremendous help during this time of difficulty.

"Grateful for any information anyone can give us in order to identify how this incident has occurred. "We suspect the fire may have been ignited intentionally. Thank you."

However, a Met spokeswoman has said that there are no indications which point to the fire as being suspicious.

The London Ambulance Service have been contacted for further information.