FIREFIGHTERS from five separate stations attended a blaze at a block of flats.

The emergency call handling centre was bombarded with calls after thick smoke was seen bellowing out of the roof of a two-storey property in Monson Road, Redhill, on Monday.

Crews from Reigate, Horley, Epsom, Godstone, and Purley were sent to the flats as residents were evacuated to safety at about 2pm.

Speaking at the scene, Godstone station manager Mark Way said: "There were so many appliances here because we had so many calls. The thick black smoke coming from the roof of the property was visible for a good distance and a lot of people raised the alarm – which is a good thing.

"The six flats were evacuated and we went into the roof space with breathing apparatus to locate the source of the fire. We're just making sure the area is safe and making sure the fire is out completely.

"No one was hurt. There is quite extensive damage to the roof tiles. To make sure it's safe we're pulling a few of the loose tiles down at the moment.

"We're not certain of the cause yet, but fire investigators are looking into it.

"We're just pleased we managed to deal with it so promptly as there is always a risk with this type of thing, of fire spreading to nearby properties."

Evacuated residents, who were huddled together watching the fire crews work, declined to speak to the Mirror's reporter, beyond saying it was "too soon" after the incident.

Among the crowd watching the firefighters extinguish the blaze was Monson Road resident Kate Hoy, 37, and her son Freddie.

She said: "I was doing the washing when I heard a fire engine and came out to see what was happening.

"There were clouds of thick black smoke coming from the roof. I went and got my two-year-old son from nursery and he put on his own plastic firefighter's hat and we watched the firefighters working.

"He's a huge Fireman Sam fan and the firefighters here have been lovely – once everything was secure they let him sit up in the fire engine."

Godstone firefighter Keith "Soggy" Jeffries gave Freddie his approval, saying: "I think we have a young firefighter in the making here – it looks like we are recruiting younger and younger."