DORSET Fire and Rescue Service has reminded people about the importance of smoke alarms after a fire in Poole this morning.

Crews from Westbourne and Redhill fire stations were sent to the scene in Bournemouth Road, Upper Parkstone, at 9am.

They found smoke coming from a flat and found that cooking that had been left unattended had caught light.

Firefighters removed it from the flat.

A spokesman for the service said: “On this occasion a neighbour was alerted by the sounding of the smoke alarm.

“This incident could have been much worse and is a reminder of the importance of having a working smoke alarm as well as not leaving cooking unattended.”