Twenty residents had to flee their flats in the early hours this morning after a blaze broke out in the shop below.

Crews from Stoke Newington Fire station were called just before 1am to the Egg Stores, which sells Jewish foods and products in Stamford Hill, and spent an hour tackling the flames to bring them under control.

The residents had already evacuated their homes before the brigade arrived and nobody was injured in the incident, although part of the shop was damaged and the building was filled with smoke.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is thought to be accidental.”