A resident was trapped in an upstairs bedroom and had to be rescued by neighbours using a ladder after a house fire broke out near Faringdon.

Fire crews were called out to a blaze involving two large linked detached houses in Littleworth near Faringdon just after 2am this morning.

Residents were alerted by smoke alarms and most of them were able to evacuate before the arrival of fire engines from Faringdon, Abingdon, Wantage and Carterton plus the water tanker from Wheatley fire station.

Swindon fire station sent a fire engine and an aerial ladder platform.

While it only took seven minutes for the first fire engine to arrive, one resident was trapped in an upstairs bedroom and unable to get out.

Quick thinking neighbours managed to rescue them through the bedroom window using a ladder.

Fire crews are likely to be there for most of the day, damping down hotspots and investigating the cause of the fire.

For information on smoke alarms and other safety advice, please visit www.365alive.co.uk