Blaze tears through Stoke Newington convenience store

More than 40 firefighters spent the morning battling a blaze which broke out in a convenience store and spread to the flat above.

Flames started tearing through UK Supermarket in Stoke Newington Church Street just after 7am and five fire crews spent more than two-and-a-half hours tackling the blaze.

The alarm was raised after the four people living in the property above the store smelt smoke and fled the building, and a further five people in the adjoining flat were led to safety after smoke started percolating the wall.

Paul Szemerej, station commander at Stoke Newington fire station, said one person was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.

He said 20 per cent of the ground floor shop has been left damaged, as well as 10 per cent of the flat above.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze is underway.