Dozens of people evacuated a pub after a fire broke out in its ventilation system.

Four fire engines and around 25 crew were scrambled to The Parakeet pub in Kentish Town Road as smoke billowed from a flue at lunchtime yesterday.

The first call of ten calls to the London Fire Brigade was made at 12.29pm.

Around 60 people left the building before the fire crews arrived and the brigade says there were no reports of any injuries.

The fire was under control by 1.56pm. Part of the ducting in the ventilation system from the ground to the third floor was damaged.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by fat and grease inside the ducting igniting, London Fire Brigade said.  

A LFB spokesperson added: “We’d like to remind restaurant and takeaway owners to ensure they don’t have dirty ducting. If you don’t clean the ducting in your extraction system regularly, you’re at a greater risk of ducting fires. 

"You should also make sure you keep the hob, cooker hood and extractor fan clean too – built up fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire."

Fire crews from Kentish Town, Euston, West Hampstead and Hornsey fire stations attended.  

The Parakeet was approached for comment.