Three fire crews were called to the derelict Toby Jug site behind Charrington Bowl where piles of rubbish had caught light.

London Fire Brigade said it send three fire engines to the blaze. A spokeswoman said that a "pile of discarded household waste was alight".

Crews from Sutton, Surbiton and Wimbledon were called at about 4pm on Saturday, and the flames were under control at 5.45pm.

Last week councillors voted against outline plans for the construction of 705 homes, a doctor's surgery, a town square and more on the land that has lain derelict for more than a decade.

Read more: Outline plans for 705 homes in Tolworth rejected

Read more: The worst litter spot in Kingston? Old fridges, beer cans and pizza boxes dumped by Tolworth station are visible from space

First Tesco and now investment firm Meyer Bergman have put forward unsuccessful plans to redevelop the site.

Last year this website revealed one of the borough's worst litter spots was the portion of the land abutting Tolworth train station.

After the story was published both Tesco and Network Rail pledged to clean up their parts of the mess.