A family fled from their bungalow home at Whitfield last night when fire broke out in the kitchen.

The alarm was raised at 6pm and two fire crews rushed to Lenacre Lane where the kitchen was well alight.

The family of two adults and two children had already got out of the building safely.

Wearing breathing apparatus, Firefighters Jim Donaldson and Mark Wadhams went into the bungalow and put the blaze out. The kitchen was severely damaged by the fire and also by the smoke. The rest of the bungalow was also affected by smoke and heat.

Watch manager Mark McDonald said people should always make sure that food is not left unattended while it is cooking. And he urged householders to make sure that working smoke alarms are fitted.