Suspected cannabis factory house destroyed by fire

Firefighters from across north-east London fought to bring the flames under control

A house in north-east London thought to have been used as a cannabis factory has been almost entirely destroyed by a fire overnight, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.

Twelve fire engines and about 80 firefighters were called to the mid-terraced property in Walthamstow shortly before 03:00 BST.

Most of the ground floor, half of the home's first floor and the roof of the two-storey house in Knebworth Avenue were gutted by the flames.

The LFB said cannabis factory fires could be "particularly dangerous" because criminals often used unsafe wiring to illegally source electricity to grow the plants

'Bad wiring and traps'

A spokesperson for the brigade added: "They're often in top floors or lofts which means when a fire takes hold it spreads, destroying roofs and damaging neighbouring buildings.

"Firefighters can also be exposed to risks when dealing with the fires because of bad wiring and traps at some of the properties."

LFB added that it was important people spot the "key signs" of a cannabis factory and inform the police.

Firefighters from across north-east London helped tackle the flames and the fire was brought under control by about 05:00 BST.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The BBC has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.