TOWN firefighters attended two potentially lethal chip pan fires during the Christmas period.

On Friday December 21, engines were called to a property in The Holloway where an unattended chip pan caught fire at 4.15pm.

Neighbours rescued a trapped householder and five people needed hospital treatment for smoke inhalation. The kitchen was gutted.

On Boxing Day, the town's fire crew attended a chip pan fire in Meadow Walk, Westlands, at 6.15pm.

No-one was injured but the property was smoke damaged.

Sub-officer Boris Borkowski, based at Droitwich Fire Station, warned residents about the perils of owning a chip pan.

He said: "My advice is stick to oven chips or buy a deep fat fryer which can be safely secured.

"In the event of a chip pan fire, turn off the power supply and cover the flames with a fire blanket or a damp cloth."