A raid by a London council has uncovered a three-bedroom home being shared by 17 people.

Housing officers at Harrow Council believe the overcrowded house - which only has one bathroom and kitchen - could have been shared by up to 40 people before the raid took place.

The council is now looking to prosecute the letting agent for operating without a House of Multiple Occupancy licence.

Cllr Graham Henson, the council’s cabinet member for environment, crime and community safety said: ‘It’s troubling to see yet another case of overcrowding in Harrow. It’s not safe, it’s not sanitary and it exploits people who deserve somewhere decent to live, just like everyone else.

‘Our licensing scheme is there to ensure incidents like this don’t happen.'