A FAMILY of five were evacuated from their home last night after a fire broke out in a child's bedroom.

The incident happened at the family's home in Regent Street, Nelson, at 10.10pm.

Firefighters said the bed was positioned too close to a gas heater which caused the bed to catch fire.

Two fire crews from Nelson were called to tackle the blaze which caused severe fire damage to the first floor of the house.

Leading Firefighter Mick Booth said: "The family didn't have a fire alarm but luckily they were all still up and the child, who had been playing on his computer, smelt the smoke and informed his parents.

"The family were all out of the house when we arrived which was lucky because by this time the house was full of thick black smoke which involved us sending in four breathing apparatus to find the seat of the fire. We used the ventilation unit to clear the smoke."

He added: "The family have gone to stop with relatives because all the power and electrics had to be switched off."