Firefighters have warned of the danger from e-scooters following a fire at an office in Finchley on Saturday.

A marquee and extension at the rear of the building in Regents Park Road were destroyed by the fire which also caused damage to a neighbouring premises.

The blaze is believed to have been accidental and to have involved an e-scooter. There were no reports of any injuries.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “It’s incredibly concerning that we are continuing to see a rise in incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters.

“When these batteries and chargers fail, they do so with ferocity and because the fires develop so rapidly the situation can quickly become incredibly serious.

“Lithium-ion batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used.

“Our advice is to try and store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or garage, and if they have to be stored inside, make sure there is smoke detection fitted and your means of escape is not obstructed.

“However we know this won’t be possible for everyone, so if you are charging them indoors, please follow our advice on using safe charging and ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire.

“Make sure they are charged in a room where there is smoke detection and on a hard, flat surface.

“We would also suggest people try not to charge them when they are asleep, so that if there is an issue they can react quickly.”

London Fire Brigade also provides the following general advice on use of e-bikes and e-scooters:

• Always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.

• Batteries can get warm during their use and it is advisable to allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge as they could be more susceptible to failure.

• Batteries can also pose a risk if they have been damaged, so try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as spares as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.