A MUM and son had a lucky escape from their burning Stoke Heath home - just days after taking the battery out of their smoke alarm.

Firefighters from Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa were called to the blaze in an upstairs bedroom in Hanbury Road, at 8.50pm on Sunday night.

Two people from the house, a mum and son, who have not been named, were trapped inside, but managed to escape.

They were taken by ambulance to the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, suffering from smoke inhalation.

The blaze completely destroyed the bedroom and firefighters, who were at the scene for three hours, say the first floor of the home was gutted.

The house is owned by Stoke parish councillor Elaine Sutor, but she does not live there.

Alec Mackie, from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said it was believed the blaze had been caused by a lighted candle, which either burned itself down and dripped onto bedclothes or fell onto bedclothes.

He said the house did not have a working smoke alarm as the battery was taken out a couple of days before as it kept going off.

Alec added: "The smoke alarm would not have stopped the fire, but it would have got firefighters there quicker. The pair did also attempt to put the fire out themselves."

He commented: "People should be very careful while using lighted candles. If one is left unattended it is a hazard, particularly if candles are forgotten while burning.

"People should never take the batteries out of their smoke alarms. The only time they should ever come out is to replace old ones with new ones."