A reported van fire near the Redbridge Roundabout this morning appears to have been a hoax.

Ilford firefighters rushed to Royston Gardens after a call around 8.30am reporting a white van alight but could not find anything at the scene.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said the call was a “malicious” hoax.

Two fire engines were sent after the prank.

The spokesman added: “If our operators suspect a call is a hoax they go through a whole series of questions.

“That means we don’t attend many hoax calls but you can’t do it all the time and if we do think there’s an emergency we always go.

“It’s time that could be spent on real emergencies.”