Police are investigating a fire that engulfed the ground floor of shops and homes next to a major road.

London Fire Brigade was called at 7.55pm yesterday (November 19) to the North Circular Road in Arnos Grove after fire broke out in a two-storey building.

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were sent to the scene, and continued to tackle the fire into the night.

A fire brigade spokesperson said the ground floor and staircase of a two-storey building, made up of shops and homes, was destroyed.

The fire service used one of its 32m turntable ladders as an observation tower.

The fire was brought under control by 12.37am.

The cause is being investigated by the Brigade and Metropolitan Police.

The incident caused significant traffic delays for drivers travelling eastbound on the A406 North Circular road between the junctions of Bounds Green Road and Powys Lane.

The fire brigade advised motorists to find alternative routes while emergency services were at the scene.

Fire crews from Southgate, Finchley, Hornsey, Tottenham and surrounding fire stations were at the scene.