A blaze that gutted part of a two-storey home in Harold Hill was caused by an e-bike battery failure, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.

The incident happened in the early hours of April 4 in Hitchin Close and the brigade was called at 3.02am.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled the fire for about an hour and two people were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Romford Recorder: Fire crews at the scene Fire crews at the scene (Image: London Fire Brigade)Firefighters from Harold Hill, Romford, Hornchurch and Dagenham fire stations, along with a crew from Essex Fire and Rescue Service, brought the blaze under control by 4.03am.

Half of the ground floor of the mid-terraced house was damaged in the incident.

Read More: House ravaged by early-hours blaze which leaves two in hospital

The first floor and staircase, LFB said, were destroyed by fire and half of the roof was also damaged.

The brigade has now revealed that the fire is believed to be accidental and was the result of a “catastrophic failure of lithium batteries in a converted e-bike”.

Romford Recorder: A lot of smoke was seen coming from the property while firefighters worked to tackle the blazeA lot of smoke was seen coming from the property while firefighters worked to tackle the blaze (Image: London Fire Brigade)A spokesperson said: "This fire that has left a home destroyed and is yet another example of how devastating fires caused by e-bikes can be.

“At this fire in Harold Hill, the e-bike was stored under the stairs when it caught alight.

“We recommend storing an e-bike or e-scooter outside or in a shed or garage if you can. If you are keeping it inside, make sure it's not an escape route."

They added that the e-bike that likely triggered the blaze had been converted from a normal e-bike using a DIY kit bought online.

Romford Recorder: The aftermath of the blazeThe aftermath of the blaze (Image: London Fire Brigade)Such kits, the spokesperson stressed, can pose a higher risk to life and the brigade is urging people to get a professional to carry out the conversion to ensure that the battery is from a reputable seller.

"From our investigations, we know many of the fires we’ve attended have involved second-hand vehicles or the bike has been modified using parts bought online.

“At this time, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters sold via online marketplaces or auction sites when compared to high street shops, so we cannot be confident that products meet the correct safety standard."

The brigade explained that if lithium batteries are overheated, crushed or overcharged then a fault can occur within damaged battery cells which may result in a fire or explosion.

"E-bikes and e-scooters are a sustainable way of travelling around but it must be done safely.

"Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller."