A discarded cigarette is being blamed for a rubbish blaze in the refuge area of a block of flats.

Firefighters from Harold Hill fire station attended the incident in Farringdon Avenue, Harold Hill yesterday (Wednesday February 8) at 10pm.

It took crews an hour and a half to control the fire and to make sure the area was safe.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “The cause of the fire was accidental but we believe that it was caused by a cigarette not being discarded properly.

“People need to make sure that their cigarettes are fully extinguished before throwing them in the bin.”