A fire caused by a candle resulted in hundreds of pounds of damage to a student bedroom.

Oxfordshire Fire Service tackled the blaze in a student house in Ridgefield Road, east Oxford, on November 8.

The candle, which had been placed on a bookshelf, is thought to have either tipped over or caught nearby papers.

No-one was hurt but the fire destroyed furniture.

The alarm was raised by the student, a woman in her late teens or early 20s.

The house was evacuated by students, while four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the fire.

Assistant Divisional Officer Steve Harrison said: "Fortunately, due to the early attendance of fire engines from the Slade and Rewley Road fire stations, and the fast action of the firefighters, the fire was confined to the bedroom where it started."

He said there were two smoke alarms in the house, but one failed to go off.

He said: "With the possibility of potential industrial action by the fire service, it's even more important that people have a heightened awareness of the dangers of fire.

"We are stressing the dangers of using candles and leaving them unattended."