THE roof of a community hall collapsed as firefighters tackled a blaze in the building.

Wickham Hall, near Bromley, was ravaged by a fire which started in the roof yesterday afternoon. Six fire crews were at the scene, in Sussex Road, West Wickham, for about four hours.

The cause of the fire is not being treated as suspicious although it is being probed by fire investigators. Witnesses say workmen were on the roof earlier in the day.

Janet Macdonald, who lives opposite, said: "It was a pretty spectacular fire. There was a lot of smoke but fortunately it wasn’t going in the direction of the houses."

A spokesman for Beckenham fire station said: "The fire started up in the roof. It is completely gutted now. It collapsed into the hall below as our crew was there."

Firefighters were called at about 2.30pm and were there until 6.30pm, although had the blaze under control earlier in the afternoon.

Crews from Beckenham, Bromley, Woodside, West Norwood, Addington and Croydon had attended the scene.