Police and fire brigade have closed off a major road between Kingston and Surbiton this lunchtime to deal with a fire in the basement of a disused shop.

Surbiton Road is closed from the junction of Penrhyn Road to Surbiton Hill Road, diverting traffic along Portsmouth Road.

Clothes shop D'Solo's was closed earlier this year and the fire came from the basement, neighbouring shops said."

Antonio Livli, a sandwich maker at Orindi’s which is two doors away, said it reminded staff of the fire that gutted their delicatessen in September.

He said: "We've not been evacuated but the next door shops and the flats upstairs have. "It was quite a dark smoke in beginning. We couldn't see any flames."

Another eye-witness said the fire had now been put out.

She said: "There's quite a bit of thick, black smoke coming out because they are putting out the fire. "There's chaos with the traffic. Everybody's having to go down side streets with four fire engines in the road."

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: "Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters are currently attending a fire in a derelict shop on Surbiton Road.

"The brigade was called at 12.18pm.

"Firefighters from stations including Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden fire stations are at the scene.

"The cause of the fire is not known at this stage."

Are you near the fire? Send your pictures to newsdesk@kingstonguardian.co.uk