A Sainsbury's store in Whitton was evacuated after a fire broke out on the building's roof.

Around 35 firefighters tackled the blaze at the building in Whitton High Street, which also contains a number of flats above the shop, on Monday (August 17) afternoon.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said staff at the supermarket were alerted to the fire when passersby noticed smoke pouring from the roof. It said eight people left the store before fire crews arrived.

LFB station manager Dave Farr, who was at the scene, said: "The shop had flats above it and quick-thinking crews spread plastic sheeting in the flats to minimise water damage while the roof fire was brought under control."

A spokesman for the brigade said it had been called at 12.24pm and the fire was under control at 1.38pm. He said part of the roof and some solar panels were damaged in the fire, the cause of which is not known at this stage.

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said there was no damage to the store, which reopened once firefighters had dealt with the blaze.