PUMPKIN seeds overheated and ignited when they were left frying in deep fat at Lancaster University.

Fire crews were called out to tackle a smoke-filled kitchen and adjoining corridor at Pendle College at 7pm last Thursday.

And they returned two hours later to clear another smoke-logged kitchen in the university's Graduate College.

On this occasion, a student had left a pan of rice cooking on the hob for too long, allowing it to catch fire.

During the same shift, a resident at Beck View, Hala, left bread unattended in a toaster, which then caught light.

The trio of incidents 'sparked' a warning from Station officer Tony Burskell, of Lancaster fire station, who told the Citizen: "It is the classic warning - if you are cooking something, especially on top of the cooker, or using the grill, don't leave it unattended."

o In the early hours last Friday the crew was called back to the university in response to a hoax call.

Mr Burskell said the incident was now in the hands of the university to deal with and take action.