People are being told to take extra care if they turn to alternative ways to heat their homes as cost-of-living pressures deepen.

The London Fire Brigade has issued the warning for those who use portable heaters, wood burners or open fires. 

 In April, a man set fire to his property in New Malden by burning timber in his living room instead of using his gas central heating. 

 There were 256 heating-related fires across London last year. Three people died and 35 were injured. So far this year there have been 148.