Neighbours were evacuated when fire broke out at a house in Banbury in the early hours of New Year's Day.

No one was injured in the blaze, at 3.27am, in a terraced house in Mold Crescent.

Iris and Thomas Clark, both 73, who live next door, woke up, smelled smoke and realised people were knocking to wake them up.

Firefighters wore breathing apparatus as they tackled the blaze in the lounge of the house.

Mrs Clark said: "We were told the fire brigade were on their way, and then asked to sit in a fire engine to keep warm until the fire was put out.

"The neighbours on the other side of the house were brought out as well. We had to stay out as the fire didn't spread to our house, but there could have been a gas explosion."