A row of terraced houses in Gleadless was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon after fire broke out in the loft space of one of the properties.

Smoke was coming from the roof of the mid-terrace property on Mawfa Avenue when fire crews from Mansfield Road, Lowedges and Central stations arrived at around 4pm.

Fears that the roof could collapse forced firefighters to withdraw from inside the house and fight the fire from outside using the Aerial Ladder Platform from Darnall station.

Station Manager Mark Lidster said: “The firefighters did an excellent job extinguishing  the fire and also preventing it spreading to the two properties on either side.

“All the occupants who had to leave their homes were offered assistance from the Red Cross fire victim support service.”

The cause of the blaze is believed to be accidental.