Over 60 people were evacuated in a restaurant fire which has left the roof damaged.

Fire fighters were called to the N20 building in High Road, Whetstone, around 10.30 am yesterday morning (January 8) where a fire had broken out in South American restaurant El Vaquero.

The fire broke out in the kitchen and gutted the extraction system on the ground and first floor of the three-floor building, as well as damaging the roof.

Five members of staff evacuated from the restaurant and around 40 people evacuated from elsewhere in the building, which includes a gym, night club and children’s play area.

A further 25 people were evacuated from the building by fire fighters when they arrived at the scene.

No one has been reported injured.

The fire is believed to have been caused by the accidental ignition of grease and fat through cooking, which spread to the ducting system.

Crews had to extensively cut away ducting, which ran from the ground floor to the roof of the building, to find out where within the system the fire was located.

A fire brigade spokesperson said: “Restaurant and take-away owners should always take care to make sure their extraction systems are kept clean as a build up of fat and grease within the filters can lead to a fire.”

Crews from Finchley, Barnet, Southgate and Hendon attended.