FIREFIGHTERS called to a kitchen blaze in Kidlington found residents had removed batteries from a smoke alarm.

Crews were called to the home in Lee Close shortly before 9pm on Saturday after residents spotted the blaze in the grill pan.

No one was hurt. A fire service spokesman said working smoke alarms saved lives.

Watch manager Ellis Bicknell, Incident Commander, said: “On further inspection of the property we noticed batteries had been removed from both smoke alarms within the property.

“Luckily the occupier noticed the fire and dialled 999 straight away, however if they hadn’t noticed, with no smoke detection the outcome from this incident would have been much worse”

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that working smoke alarms save lives, never remove batteries from them, and regularly clean ovens and grills to reduce the risk of having a fire”.

Visit 365alive.co.uk for Community Safety advice.