A NEIGHBOUR has been praised for evacuating a mother and two children after a fire broke out at a launderette near Oxford.

Rub a Dub Dub in Kennington became choked with smoke yesterday afternoon after a large tumble dryer sparked a fire.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said a shop owner next door alerted emergency services and a family in the flat above the launderette, and prevented customers from entering the building.

The fire service said crews were called out at 1.42pm to the launderette in Playfield Road, to find a 'developing fire' which had 'smoke logged the entire ground floor and caused smoke logging to a first floor flat'.

Firefighters extinguished the flames and later found the fire had started due to a build-up of heat in the tumble dyer, which set fire to lint in the machine and towels that had been drying inside the drum.

Station manager Marcus Reay said: “I would like to thank the neighbouring shop owner whose swift actions in calling us out ensured the fire service were on scene within minutes.

"We were able to take immediate action to ensure the damage was minimised and everyone was safe.

"The neighbour not only phoned the fire and rescue service but also made sure no one went into the launderette, and alerted the occupier of the flat above the launderette, about the fire, and got her to evacuate with her two children

“Tumble dyer fires can develop very quickly, and I ask people to follow our top tips to reduce the chances of a fire occurring in your home or business."

The launderette has alerted residents via Facebook that it will remain closed while further investigation is carried out.