PETROL fumes wafting from a pub basement brought part of Bromley to a standstill yesterday.

The Chatterton Arms, in Chatterton Road, reported a strong smell of petrol coming from their basement just after 9am.

Four fire engines and a specialist chemical unit evacuated the pub and surrounding shops in Bromley Common to investigate the source of the vapours.

Bromley white watch manager said: "There was a strong smell of petrol in the basement. We evacuated the building and set up cordons. We then took off the drain covers and ventilated the drains by sticking a hose down there and flushing them out.

"Specialist firefighters with specialist detecting equipment took samples from the sludge that came out of the drains.

"It came up positive so we continued with ventilation and put some detergent down the drains to get rid of any vapours."

Fire crew are unsure as to the source of the petrol smell, but the scene was declared safe four hours later.

The road opened at 1.30pm.