DORSET'S fire service has warned all residents of the dangers of hob fires after a mother and two young children escaped from a kitchen blaze.

A room of a flat in Poundbury was severely damaged after the electric hob was accidentally switched on, setting alight a nappy bag, which had been left on it.

Two fire crews from Dorchester and one from Weymouth were called to the property at 5.19pm and used two breathing apparatus wearers and one hose reel jet to extinguish the blaze.

The occupants – a mother and two young children – escaped uninjured after being alerted to the fire by their smoke alarm.

Group manager Richard Coleman said: “Nearly two thirds of all accidental dwelling fires in Dorset and Wiltshire last year started in the kitchen, and this incident shows just how easy it is for accidents to happen.

"The safest thing to do is never leave any items on the surface of your hob. Fortunately, this family had working smoke alarms and were able to call for help very quickly, so they suffered no harm and the damage was contained to the kitchen.”