These are the dramatic images of a Radlett house ravaged by fire last night.

The fire brigade was called to Brook Drive at about 9.40pm, when flames began leaping from the roof of the property.

Alan, the homeowner, said he was in the house at the time but nobody was hurt, and gave the Watford Observer access to the house to see the extent of the damage.

The a large section of the roof was completely destroyed, and every room on the first floor sustained serious damage.

Once sturdy beams have been reduced to charcoal and the walls reveal gaping holes to the outside world.

Light fittings hang redundant from what remains of the dining room ceiling, and an antique 300-year-old dining table creaks under the weight of smouldering material from the floor above.

Water from the two hour battle against the blaze still drips from the walls and soaks the carpet.

Most disturbing is the bedroom, completely blackened by smoke but seemingly undamaged by fire, and the bed, where on a normal night Alan would have slept.

A plumber at the scene said: “It's shame, this was such a nice house, Alan's a really nice man and had a lot of trinkets, most of which have been burned.”

Fire investigators are currently at the scene but it is believed the blaze was started by accident.