A QUICK-THINKING neighbour has been praised after alerting fire crews to a blaze starting in the house next door.

Firefighters were called to the incident in Oak Close in Bicester at 12.45pm on Tuesday after the neighbour was alerted by a smoke alarm activating in the house.

The crew entered the house and put out the fire in the kitchen before clearing the house of smoke.

Oxford Fire and Rescue Service crew manager Nigel Chaney said: “It was fortunate the family had working smoke alarms which alerted the neighbour to the fire, without these the damage could have been much worse. 

"People should ensure you have working smoke alarms and test them weekly."