HOMES along the North Circular were evacuated last night after a fire broke out at a boarded-up home suspected as being used as a squat.

The abandoned terraced house is one of the homes which has been left empty by the ongoing expansion and redevelopment of the stretch of the A406 through New Southgate.

The roof and first floor were destroyed in the fire, which started at around 11.40pm, and nearby neighbours had to leave their homes while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Police closed off the main road while the flames were being extinguished, and investigating officers are treating the incident as suspicious.

No one was injured in the fire, and residents were allowed back to their homes around two hours after firefighters were called.