A MAN has spoken of his devastation after losing both his home and business in a fire.

Pedro Pessoa, 49, has suddenly been left without accommodation or a livelihood after the fierce blaze on Saturday night (March 31).

His food store, Deli Cascais, and his apartment upstairs were both destroyed during the inferno in Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone, which broke out at around 10.45pm.

He was away visiting friends at the time and returned home to see the building engulfed in flames.

"I've lost everything and all in a few minutes," said a visibly shaken Mr Pessoa, who has rented the building for the last four years.

"Everything inside is gone, I have nothing".

The London Fire Brigade initially said a man, woman and three children living in the flat fled the fire, but it has now emerged that no-one was inside at the time.

It is thought the confusion arose from a family living nearby who ran out into the street because of worries the blaze may have spread to neighbouring homes.

At least seven neighbours were evacuated by fire-fighters as a precaution.

The cause is under investigation but it is thought an electrical fault may have been to blame.

Mr Pessoa said: "I went out at about 8pm to visit some friends and then I got a call to say there was a fire. When I got here everything was in flames.

"It's just me in the flat but I have three cats and a dog as well. The cats got out but someone went in to get my dog, Gypsy, who was stuck behind the front door.

"There was a lot of smoke so I'm very pleased someone did that.

"Now I don't know what I'm going to do or how long it will take to fix. They say it the building might be structurally unsafe so we can't go inside."

Mr Pessoa added he hoped most of the costs would be covered by insurance.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: "Four fire engines and around 20 fire-fighters were called to the incident.

"The Brigade was called at 11.44pm and the fire was under control by 12.56am."

He added: "The flat was badly damaged by fire and the roof of the building was destroyed.

"The fire also damaged part of the staircase from the ground to first floor."

The business downstairs has also been badly damaged due to the water from the fire-fighters' hoses, Mr Pessoa said.

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