Firefighters have warned people to be careful discarding cigarettes in dry weather after a grass fire.

Two fire engines and ten firefighters were called to the shrub fire in Watermead Way, Tottenham, yesterday afternoon.

Crews put out the blaze in less than an hour but a small area of grass and shrubs was burnt.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “Grass fires can be started deliberately or accidentally, but however they start, they can cause huge damage to property and kill wildlife. “If you see a grass fire, don't attempt to put it out yourself as grass fires can travel very quickly and change direction without warning.

“Call the fire brigade and let us know where the fire is. The most common causes of grass fires are discarded cigarettes, which if thrown from a car window can ignite dry grass verges. Another common way that these fires start is from glass bottles which can concentrate the suns rays onto dry grass and shrubbery."

Further information on avoiding grass fires can be found here.