Three fire engines, police and an ambulance responded to a hoax call last night about a disabled man trapped in a blazing flat - reducing fire cover across the area.

Firefighters were called at 2am to reports of the man allegedly trapped in a burning flat with flames and smoke coming out of it in Farriers Close, Epsom.

But the incident turned out to be a hoax and the matter has been reported to the police.

Epsom watch commander Gareth Arnold said: "As far as we’re concerned any hoax call takes our resources away from people who may need them.

"I don’t think people realise the amount of resources and the knock-on effect that has. It’s huge really."