Aquarius Archery Club in East Finchley was gutted by fire in the early hours of this morning.

The wooden clubhouse in Southern Road is now a blackened shell following the blaze at 4am.

Four fire engines and 20 firefighters were called to tackle the flames at 4.10am and the fire was eventually put out at 5.25am.

Julia Swift, who lives in a house overlooking the clubhouse, said: “My husband woke up and saw the flames and we immediately called the fire brigade – they arrived almost instantly.

“The flames were really high and the crackling noise was beyond belief. The speed of the fire was phenomenal. It was eating the building up.

“It’s very sad. It was such a beautiful old building. You’re not going to get that sort of thing again.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Will you be affected by the loss of the clubhouse? Email noneill@london.newsquest.co.uk