A smoke alarm alerted a family of four to a fire in their Sheffield home- which it’s thought was started by their cat.

The fire on Foxwood Avenue at around 4.30am involved a plastic toolbox which had been left on top of a halogen hob.

It’s thought that the family’s cat had walked across the hob in the night, accidentally switching it on.

On hearing the smoke alarm sound, the two adults and two children inside the property all managed to get out of the house safely.

The fire was already out when Central, Birley Moor and Parkway firefighters arrived, but crews used specialist equipment to ventilate the property.

Area Manager Steve Helps, said: “Smoke alarms are one of the best ways of preventing deaths and injuries in house fires. If a fire does start, smoke alarms can give you an early warning, giving you the vital extra seconds needed to escape.

“But smoke alarms only save lives if they are working properly. To ensure your smoke alarms are working when you need them, test them regularly by holding down the ‘test’ button until it beeps.”