Alarm offer after house fire ordeal

A 19-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman and an eight-month-old baby were inside the house on Manor Street, Carlton, when a blaze started in an upstairs bedroom.

They needed hospital treatment for breathing in smoke after escaping from the flames.

Firefighters from Royston Fire Station used breathing apparatus to put out the blaze - but found alarms inside the house were not working because the batteries were flat.

Today firefighters urged all residents across the county to contact them to receive a free alarm with 10-year battery.

Neil McCullum from White Watch at Royston fire station said: “By calling our fire safety hotline - 0114 253 2314 - we can check homes fit these smoke alarms, all for free.”