NEW Cross Caribbean takeaway Smokey Jerky was truly up in smoke yesterday with around 20 firefighters tackling a blaze.

Four fire engines were called to the popular eatery – which was billowing black fumes - in New Cross Road at 8.01am and crews had the flames under control by 9.28am.

A man escaped the building before firefighters arrived and was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The fire destroyed the restaurant’s ventilation system and damaged part of the ground floor.

Crews from New Cross, Old Kent Road, and Peckham attended the incident and officers are currently investigating the cause.