NEIGHBOURS broke into a house and rescued a man from his bed after food caught fire in his kitchen.

The have-a-go heroes had been sleeping but woke up shortly before 3.30am this morning, to the sound of a smoke alarm ringing.

They saw smoke in their neighbour's home, on the Glory Farm estate in Bicester, and thought there was someone inside.

They called 999 and dashed to his rescue, breaking inside and helping him to safety.

Fire crews were able to provide first aid in the garden before ambulance crews arrived.

Oxford Mail:

Aerial view of the Glory Farm estate. Pic: Google Maps

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service credited the smoke alarm for 'saving a life.' 

The fire service said in a Facebook post: "The fire was caused by unattended food catching fire in the kitchen and smoke logging the house.

"Undoubtedly, the working smoke alarms saved a life again by raising the alarm.

"Please, please check you have working alarms - at least one of each level of your house - it could be your lives they save."

Firefighters did not specify exactly where the fire happened, nor how the rescuers managed to get inside.