Residents have been left temporarily homeless and businesses are struggling after a fire in Kenton yesterday.

The blaze is thought to have started at the back of a parade of shops in Woodcock Hill, spreading up the stairwell and damaging some of the flats on the first and second floors.

Ahmed Nasir, a businessman from Edgware, came down to the scene this morning to assess the damage.

He said: “Everyone got out fine, but one of the upstairs flats has been badly damaged, one of the rooms has gone.”

His aunt, who lives in one of the flats, was one of ten residents evacuated by firefighters and is now staying with Mr Nasir while repair work is done to the block.

Three young children were in an upstairs flat when the fire broke out, at around 1pm, and with flames filling the stairwell at the back, they had to use the front door and balcony to get out.

Mr Nasir said: “They were scared and shocked, but alright.

“It was lucky because all of the flats have two entries to them, so the children were able to get out from the other side of the flat.”

The fire is thought to have started in a large pile of rubbish which had collected at the bottom of the stairs behind a large door.

The door was damaged in the blaze and has since been removed, revealing a large wiring box thought to provide electricity to the block which has been badly burnt.

Ali Ali, 48, who owns Supernet UK, an internet cafe in the parade of shops where the fire happened, is not sure when he can get his business up and running again because his phone and internet cables are not working.

He said: “I have no business now, no phones, no internet, not anything.

“It is not just my business, it is all the ones on the parade who have no connection.

“Now it has to be fixed, but my neighbour said it could take two or three days before it is done, I just don't know.”