FIREFIGHTERS say a woman had a lucky escape following a fire at her house in Evesham last night.

Two engines from Evesham were called to the fire before requesting further help from Pershore and Broadway firecrews.

The woman was rescued from her home on Battleton Road by neighbours at around 9.15pm and treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital with minor smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is being linked to discarded smoking materials.

Station Commander Toby Kempton from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) said the working smoke alarm in the house had made the vital difference to the outcome of this incident.

He explained: “Thanks to an early alert from the smoke alarm, the woman was brought to safety and damage inside the house was kept to a minimum. Undoubtedly it would have been a different story if passersby had not heard the alarm and reacted as they did.”