Seventy firefighters tackled a fire that ripped through flats and a roof above a restaurant in central Richmond early today – Tuesday.

Ten appliances were called to the blaze at around 1.30am today above the Diba Persian restaurant at the junction of Paradise Road and Halford Road.

It is the third restaurant fire to hit outlets in the centre of Richmond in a relatively short period.

Blaze started above Diba restaurant at around 1.30am

McDonalds near Richmond Station is currently closed following a fire above the outlet, while Itsu closed for many months, again due to a fire in the roof.

There will be suspicions that the fires relate to failures in extraction units associated with the kitchens.

London Fire Brigade said: "Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a fire at a restaurant with flats above on Paradise Road in Richmond.

Flats and roof above restaurant destroyed

"The whole of the mansard roof on the second and third floor levels was destroyed by fire. Half of the first floor and part of the ground floor was also damaged in the fire.

Persian restaurant Diba before the fire (Credit Google StreetView)

"The Brigade was called at 0132 and the fire was under control by 0517. Fire crews from Richmond, Kingston, Twickenham, Chiswick, Heston, Hammersmith, Heston, Acton and Wandsworth fire stations were in attendance.

"The cause of the fire is under investigation."