A deliberate fire was started in Mortlake this morning, with several tins of paint and creosote set alight.

Firefighters from Richmond fire station were called to Chertsey Court, Clifford Avenue, at 6.15am to reports of the fire.

A workman's container loaded with paint and creosote had been torched in an apparent arson attack.

A spokesman for the fire station said it took a while to put out the flames.