A fire at timber merchant in Chiswick, London, yesterday evening destroyed a single storey building and forced the closure of a nearby underground station.

Four fire engines were called to the blaze on Chiswick High Road at the junction of Acton Lane.

London Fire Brigade said a building was “completely destroyed by the fire and a 200m hazard zone set up around the site”.

Around 50 people were evacuated and transport in the area was severely disrupted, including services on the Piccadilly and District lines.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.