A PAN fire was brought under control after quick-thinking neighbours raised the alarm in time.

Residents living next to the home in Wimborne Gardens dialled 999 after smelling smoke and hearing a fire alarm from across the street.

Firefighters arrived to find no one was in and had to force their way in to contain the blaze.

Food which had been left cooking while the owners were out had caught alight and was filling the kitchen with smoke.

Damage was limited to the immediate area around the cooker but a strong smell of smoke filled the rest of the property.

The fire crew from Dee Road station then boarded up the window they gained entry through and left the home in the care of the neighbours.

Crew manager Graham Chandler said: "We had to affect an entry and sent in two breathing apparatus with a hose reel.

"A pan had been left on the stove and the owner had gone out.

"There was very minimal damage but a lot of smoke throughout."

Crews spent around one hour on scene after being called in at 11.40am today.

Mr Chandler added: "People should always check their smoke alarms are working and never leave cooking unattended."