FIRE chiefs are investigating a bank holiday blaze at a restaurant which saw four people sent to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

Six fire engines and 30 firefighters were called to the Thai Chung Chinese restaurant, Nelson Road, Greenwich, at 6.04pm yesterday.

London Ambulance Service took four people to hospital as firefighers spent more than three hours battling the blaze.

The road was closed and police also attended to re-direct traffic. One lane re-opened at 9.30pm and the road was fully re-opened at 11.38pm.

There was 30 per cent damage caused to the basement of the restaurant, 15 per cent to the ground floor and the entire ventilation ducting running through the building was destroyed.

A shop next door to the restaurant called Joy has remained closed today due to smoke damage and flooding in the basement.

Area manager of the shop, which sells clothes and arts and crafts, Richard Brown witnessed the fire.

He said: "I was alerted to the basement of our shop by a member of staff. There was lots of smoke seeping through the gaps in the wall.

"I was so shocked. I ran upstairs and evacuated the shop of staff and around eight customers. Then I saw smoke rushing out from the restaurant next door. The smell was very strong."

Mr Brown estimates damage to the stock in his shop could be as high as £60,000.

He added: "Everything stinks of smoke. I have the insurance people coming round later today to assess whether to write-off the entire stock.

"There are about 3,000 items in total. At least one quarter of it is damaged, and it could be much more."

Shop owner Kym Hatala of the Rococo flower shop, also next door to the restaurant, arrived to work to find her shop covered in grey soot.

She said: "It looked like someone had thrown talcum powder all over my shop. It's been busy round here today with surveyors, firemen, police and insurers.

"It's an absolute tip outside though. They've dragged carpet out and bits of wood. It's not very pleasant and I hope it doesn't affect my trade."

The fire investigation unit is still investigating the cause of the fire.

Fire crews from Lewisham, Greenwich, Peckham, Forest Hill and Deptford stations attended.