A fire that prompted families to be evacuated from a block of flats is being treated as "accidental" following initial investigation.

The fire service says it received 20 calls after flames were spotted by Lamberton Court on the corner of Gateshead Road and Leeming Road in Borehamwood.

Firefighters were alerted to the incident at 10.27pm on Saturday (April 23) and sent crews from Borehamwood and Watford to extinguish the fire which broke out where bins are kept.

Ambulances were sent to the scene but there were no reports of any injuries. According to local Labour councillor Michelle Vince, families including young children had to be evacuated.

Initial reports indicated the fire may have been deliberately set but police have issued a statement suggesting it was not arson.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "Police were called at just after 10.30pm on April 23 to reports of a fire in a bin shed on Gateshead Road, Borehamwood.

"Officers and the fire service attended. The fire service extinguished the blaze. No injuries were reported.

"Following detailed investigations, the cause of the fire was deemed to be accidental."

Cllr Vince said residents in Lamberton Court were "understandably upset" by what happened and said flames had reached as high as the first floor of the building.

She says she has contacted Clarion Housing, the housing association which manages the building, about the incident.

Her Cowley Hill colleague Richard Butler added on social media that he had been contacted by "many residents" about the fire and that he had written to senior councillors and officers at Hertsmere Borough Council.

There was also a fire in this area last month at a nursery. The fire, which is being treated, as arson destroyed nursery equipment.