Quick-thinking kosher butcher Jacky Lipowicz did his bit for community relations after putting out a fire at a halal restaurant this week.

Mr Lipowicz, chairman of the Licensed Kosher Meat Traders' Association, jumped into action after noticing flames while koshering meat in the early hours of Wednesday.

The 70-year-old and a colleague used buckets of water - which they were using to prepare meat - to put out the fire at the Palm Grill eaterie next to his shop in Ealing, west London.

"We ran round the back with our full buckets and flung them all over the fire," Mr Lipowicz said. "It gave us a whole new use for koshering water.

"We managed to put the flames out before the fire brigade arrived. It was just fortuitous that we happened to be there with water close by.

"It has definitely set a good example of neighbourly relations between Muslims and Jews."

Restaurant owner Arash Shaabani said: "We are so lucky to have such good neighbours. They were wonderful.

"We've worked together many times before and always help each other out.

"It doesn't matter where you're from or what you believe in - I am Iranian and he is Jewish. It's about humanity helping each other out. This has made our community stronger."

Police believe the fire was started deliberately by vandals.