THE fire service has reminded people to check their smoke alarms following a house fire in Banbury.

The blaze started in the roof of a semi-detached house in Bretch Hill, but was unnoticed by an adult leaving the property because the battery from the smoke detector had been removed.

Four fire engines were called to the house by neighbours at 12.25pm on Friday. No-one was inside.

Station manager Mark Ames of the fire service said: “Had batteries been fitted in the smoke detectors, it is likely that the fire would have been discovered much sooner and this would have reduced the damage.”