Around 125 firefighters are fighting a huge blaze at an industrial site in Mitcham.

The fire is affecting a tyre centre, workshop and scaffolding yard, the London Fire Brigade said. Around four hectares of surrounding scrubland is also alight.

Twenty fire engines are at the scene near Carshalton Road after firefighters were called to the blaze shortly before 4.30pm.

The fire has closed the rail line between Mitcham Junction and Sutton causing chaos on rush hour Southern and Thameslink services.

The LFB warned the fire is producing a significant amount of smoke and local residents should keep their windows and doors closed.

It told people to avoid the area near Mitcham Common if they can.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and is not yet known.

Footage shared online shows smoke billowing from the fire as firefighters battle the blaze.

The LFB is using specialist wildfire equipment to tackle the blaze as well as a 32 metre turntable ladder to fight the fire from above.

A drone team is providing an aerial view of the fire to help make decisions about tackling the blaze.

Call handlers were flooded with calls about the fire with over 70 calls alerting the LFB, with the first at 4.27pm.

A LFB spokesperson said: “One of the Brigade's Terrain Support Vehicles has been sent to the scene to support firefighting efforts. The vehicle provides off-road capability enabling the transportation of additional equipment closer to fires on open ground.

“Each vehicle carries approximately 475 litres of water, a backpack blower, ear defenders, beaters and misting lance technology, which allows firefighters to pump water and drive, enabling them to tackle grass fires more quickly and safely.”

The local authority Merton Council wrote online: “London Fire Brigade are responding to a large fire in the Mitcham Junction area.

“Please avoid the Carshalton Road area. Trains are suspended between Mitcham Junction and Hackbridge.

“At this time no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

National Rail warned: “A fire on property near the railway has closed the line between Mitcham Junction and Sutton.

It said: “Thameslink services between Sutton and St Albans will be suspended or run via Wimbledon only.

“Southern services between London Victoria and Dorking / Horsham via Sutton will be diverted via West Croydon increasing journey times by 20 minutes

“Southern & Thameslink: Selected services will make additional stops at Coulsdon South, Merstham, and Three Bridges to cover cancelled services at these stations.”

The London Fire Brigade has mobilised crews from Mitcham, Wallington, Norbury and surrounding fire stations to the scene.

This is a developing news story and is being updated.