A family of five are lucky to be alive after escaping a fire that gutted their kitchen.

Sub officer Tony Walmsley said that the family had taken the batteries out of a smoke alarm at their house on Meadow Vale, Oakdale, so were unaware of the fire until the later stages.

The fire started from a tumble dryer at about 1.30am today and resulted in 100 percent damage to kitchen.

Sub officer Tony Walmsley said: "If they hadn't closed the door the fire would have reached the rest of the house.

"But if the batteries were in the smoke alarm they would have known about the fire in the early stages."