An elderly couple escaped a fire which destroyed part of their home on Spencer Hill early yesterday morning.
The fire started in the airing cupboard due to an electrical fault.
The couple, who did not have smoke alarms installed, were woken by the smell of smoke and managed to get out of the house unharmed before the fire services arrived.
A spokesman from the White Watch at Wimbledon Fire Station said: "Fifty per cent of the first floor was damaged and fifty per cent of the roof was also damaged.
"The couple had a lucky escape.
"We are urging people to make sure they have smoke alarms installed in their homes. We offer a free fire risk assesment which anyone can take advantage of.
"It took us about one and a half hours to put out the fire but we were on the scene until 11am."
They sent four engines to put out the blaze.
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