Sunlight refracting off perfume bottles is believed to be the causes of a house fire which destroyed the property’s first floor and damaged its roof.

The fire broke out in a bedroom at a house in Hookstone Way, Woodford Green, at 2.40pm on Friday, October 19.

Four fire engines and 25 firefighters from Woodford, Walthamstow, Hainault and Leytonstone stations attended and it was under control shortly after 3.30pm.

The incident has prompted a safety warning from the London Fire Brigade

Fire investigation officer Paul Osborne said: "We believe the sunlight came through the window and refracted off some perfume bottles which were being stored by the bed and then set light to the bedding.

"Fires caused by sunlight are not as rare as you might think.

“At this time of year particularly, and in the spring, the sun generally tracks low in the sky and because of that, the light going in through windows will stick on one point for a long period of time.

"You only need something such as a glass ornament or jar to focus the sun's rays and it can ignite textiles.

"It's not so much about the temperature but about the strength of the sunlight.

"Our advice is to make sure that you keep mirrors, crystals, glass ornaments and other reflective items out of direct sunlight at all times.”