Kingston Council's leader, Cllr Andreas Kirsch, has released a statement following a fire which occurred in Kingston's Ancient Market Place in the early hours of Tuesday morning (6 October).

Cllr Kirsch expressed his sympathy with those affected, saying: "I am shocked and saddened by the serious fire that has affected Kingston's market place.

"The Ancient Market sits at the heart of the community and my thoughts are with the traders, business owners and residents who have been impacted by this incident.

"I want to reassure you that the council is working with partners to support all those affected.

"We are working with the London Fire Brigade and the Met Police to support their enquiries, ensure the immediate safety of the area, and prioritise the recovery of our much-loved market."

The Market Place remains cordoned off while the Met continues its investigation.