Firefighters are still on the scene of an old bank building in Croydon town centre after putting out a fire there this morning.
Five fire engines are on the scene in the empty Britannia shop in North End, next to Palace Amusements, after being called out to reports of the fire at 9.05am.
More than 30 firefighters fought the flames and brought the fire under control within an hour of being called out.
Eyewitness Carol Jones, of Ruskin Road, Croydon, said: "I saw that building on fire and full of smoke. It was coming out really bad and then I saw all the fire fighters tackling the building.
"I don't think anybody was in there. It's really scary there could have been anybody in there."
Another witness, Amanda Kentfield, added: "I saw the smoke coming out out of the window. Ten minutes after I got here they sent in the guys with masks and there was a guy in the crane spraying the building.
"I think they must have always had it under control. Once they got in they sent in three guys with breathing apparatus. There was no panic but a lot of people were watching."
Station manager Lee Sparks confirmed that nobody was injured, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
"The crew now will be on the scene for a while damping down and cutting away bits burnt to make sure there's no fire spread," he added.
