A MICROWAVEABLE wheat bean bag has been blamed for causing a bed to go up in flames.

A post shared by Oxfordshire Fire Service yesterday said on Wednesday morning crews from Kidlington Fire Station and Rewley Road Fire Station were called to reports of a house on fire in Yarnton, near Kidlington.

It said: "When we got there, we found a bed on fire on the first floor.

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"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property put the fire out and removed the bed."

The occupant was treated for smoke inhalation by South Central Ambulance Service.

The fire service post, which included an image of the burnt remains of the bed, added: "It looks like the cause was a wheat bean bag that had been warmed up in the microwave, please follow the manufacturers instructions and use with care.

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"The best advice is to have working smoke alarms and if you do have a fire get out and call 999."

Fire services across the UK have issued warnings over wheat bags, which are often seen as a safer alternative to hot water bottles.

Online advice resource SafeSpace explained: "The problem centres on the wheat bag’s ability to absorb and store heat.

"This can then lead it to overheat.

"So do use the wheat bag as a heat pack for the body, but don’t use it as a bed warmer.

"Covering it with bedclothes, such as duvets or blankets can lead to it spontaneously heating up and it may catch fire."