Residents of a street in Cowley were forced to evacuate their homes after a fire broke out in a kitchen.

Crews from Slade Park and Rewley Road fire stations wore breathing apparatus to enter a property in Salesian Gardens yesterday morning.

They found a pan had caught light and spread to the extractor above. They quickly brought the fire under control and ventilated the building.

The residents, who were alerted by their smoke alarms, had tried to put out the fire using a fire blanket before calling the fire service.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “They did the right thing when their fire blanket failed to extinguish the fire, by exiting the property and calling us.

“Please remember not to leave your cooking unattended, and if the worst happens don’t tackle the fire yourself – get out, stay out, call 999.”