Two adults and two children were rescued from a shop fire in Woolwich early yesterday morning (May 21).

A ground-floor shop with flats above it was damaged in the blaze, which started at 5.26am on Woolwich New Road.

Firefighters used a nine-metre ladder to rescue the group of four and also led five adults and two children to safety via an internal staircase.

Four people had already left the building before fire crews arrived.

One person was taken to hospital by paramedics after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Fire crews from Plumstead, East Greenwich, Eltham and surrounding fire stations controlled the blaze by 7.23am.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade: “Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a fire at a shop on Woolwich New Road in Woolwich.

“Part of a ground floor shop, with flats above, was damaged by fire.

“Two adults and two children were rescued from the three-storey building by firefighters via a nine-metre ladder.

“Five adults and two children were led to safety by firefighters via an internal staircase.

“Four people left the building before firefighters arrived.

“One person was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews suffering from smoke inhalation.

“The Brigade was called at 5.26am and the fire was under control by 7.23am.

“Crews from Plumstead, East Greenwich, Eltham and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation.”