A pot of burning chillies sparked fears of a chemical terror attack on a busy shopping street in London. Police closed off three roads and evacuated homes in central London as a cloud of noxious smoke filled the air.

But the source turned out to be some fiery food left cooking on a restaurant stove by chef Chalemchai Tangjariyapoon.

Firefighters wearing protective breathing apparatus were called to D’Arblay Street, Soho on Monday evening as members of the public were shepherded away.

The specialist crews then broke down the door of the Thai Cottage restaurant. They emerged around 7pm with a 9lb pot of chillies.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The street was closed off for three hours while we were trying to discover the source of the odour."

via Arbroath