Firefighters have battled a blaze at a mansion on one of Britain’s most expensive streets – nicknamed Billionaires’ Row.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to the “derelict” multimillion-pound property on The Bishops Avenue in Barnet, north London.

The fire started on the home’s ground floor but damaged the first floor and destroyed the roof of the three-storey building, according to London Fire Brigade (LFB).

“The fire has caused heavy smoke, which is being seen and smelt in other areas of central London,” an LFB spokesperson said.

“Residents in the nearby area are advised to keep their doors and windows shut due to the smoke.”

Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly three hours, having been called to reports of a fire around 12.42am on Friday morning.

Fire crews from Finchley, West Hampstead, Hornsey and other surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

The cause of the fire has been recorded as undetermined.

The Georgian property, known as The Towers, was reportedly bought by the Saudi royal family during the Gulf War for an estimated £25m.

The freehold for the land is worth an estimated £73m and is currently owned by an Isle of Man-based firm.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

In recent years, the site has become a hotspot for “urban explorers”, who have posted videos online of themselves inside the derelict property.

The Bishops Avenue, located between the north side of Hampstead Heath and East Finchley, consists of 66 mansions, owned by some of the world’s wealthiest people.

Former residents of the street include the Sultan of Brunei, and Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber, who in 2016 was reported to have been renting a 15-bedroom mansion on the street for £108,000 a month.

Related posts:

Watch: Friday’s newspaper front pages Army to shrink to its smallest size since the 1700s under sweeping defence plans UK could face water shortages if action is not taken to conserve supplies Unexploded bomb fears as police and medics in stand-off over where to treat Manchester Arena victims Teens in England will be given extra help to prepare for their GCSEs and A-levels Around 1,000 migrants cross into the UK in one day as government says ‘British public have had enough’ Girl dies after being hit by car on zebra crossing in Birmingham hit-and-run Baby and woman, 35, die in early hours collision with HGV Queen carries out first official engagements since COVID scare Man arrested over murder of woman at student flats in central London Sexual abusers will be ‘rooted out’ of South Yorkshire Police, chief constable vows Council pays out six-figure legal fee after failed strip club fight