Fire-starting tortoise quickly rescued by brigade

A black dog was also rescued by firefighters

A fire-starting tortoise has been rescued from the fourth floor of a block of flats in south London.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) was quick to respond after the lumbering land reptile knocked over a heat lamp which set fire to the hay in its enclosure on London Road in Mitcham on Thursday.

A black dog, hiding under the stairs, was also rescued and returned to its thankful owner following the fire at 11:40 BST, LFB said.

Crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington brought the fire under control by about 12:20.

The unnamed reptile's owner may have to shell out for a new lamp