FIRE crews have praised a vigilant neighbour for raising the alarm and helping to save a thatched cottage. 

put out a blaze in the roof of a thatched cottage in West Hagbourne near Didcot this afternoon.

Crews from Didcot, Wantage, Abingdon and Wallingford were called to the property in West Hagbourne at 4.45pm yesterday and cut away a section of thatch to prevent the blaze spreading.

Group manager Rob MacDougall said the property owner was alerted to the fire by a neighbour who smelt burning and went to investigate. She immediately raised the alarm with the occupier, who was still in the building, and called for the fire service. 

Incident Commander Jon Walker said: "Thanks to the quick thinking of the neighbour, coupled with the actions of the occupier and quick attendance of the fire service, the building was only superficially damaged and the remainder of the grade II listed structure was saved.

"Crews from across South and West Oxfordshire and West Berkshire were mobilised to the incident and brought it to a safe and successful conclusion. 

“We cannot stress the importance of having working smoke alarms in your property and thinking about what you would do in the event of a fire in your home". 

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.