FIREFIGHTERS carried 17 elderly residents to safety when a blaze broke out at a Callow End rest home in the early hours of Wednesday.

A crew from Malvern joined others from Worcester and Upton to tackle the fire at St Cloud nursing home, which broke out in the kitchen just before 5am.

It is believed to have been started by an electrical fault in a dishwasher.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie said 17 out of 28 elderly residents had to be carried to safety, after the fire produced a large quantity of thick smoke.

Six fire engines attended the scene but the fire itself was contained within a kitchen area on the ground floor. Ambulances were on standby but were not required.

Diane Bailey, general manager of St Cloud Care Group, confirmed that no one had been hurt.

She said the fire had led to eight residents in their 70s, 80s and 90s being evacuated from the building, while the rest were led to the lounge as a precaution.

After breakfast in the lounge, everyone was allowed back to their rooms and business was being conducted as normal by 11am.

Mrs Bailey said the fire started in the kitchen.

"We think it was an electrical fault," she said, adding that the equipment was checked regularly. "We do have a secondary kitchen."

Mrs Bailey said that the experience had provided the residents with some excitement.

"They all thought it was quite a good experience," she said. "And they loved the firemen!"

No changes will be made at the home, either in terms of personnel or equipment, as a result of the fire, which is the first to have occurred there.

"All our staff are very well-trained and all the equipment is tested regularly," Mrs Bailey.