CARELESS disposal of smoking material is being blamed for a fire which gutted a house in Princess Street, Nelson.

Residents asleep in three neighbouring houses were evacuated in the early hours of yesterday morning as firefighters cleared smoke which had spread through the common roof void.

None of the houses was fitted with a smoke alarm and the fire and rescue service will leaflet the area in the aftermath of the incident, offering free alarms.

The house was well alight when fire crews arrived at the end terrace house at 2.20am. It had started in a back living room and spread to the hallway and stairs. The fierce heat melted units in the bathroom.

Sub Officer Gary Kiyani said: "We think it was started by the careless disposal of smoking materials and had been burning for some time. The house was empty at the time."

Neighbours had to leave their homes for 20 minutes while the smoke cleared. Fire crews were at the scene for 90 minutes.