A baby of seven months was among five children rescued from a blazing house in Oxford.

But in a second fire in the city today, a pensioner died despite neighbours smashing down the door.

In the first blaze, just before midnight, 15-year-old Stacey Newbold led the rescue of five children and their dad from a house in Gentian Road, Blackbird Leys.

The baby, Connor Wells, was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital together with two boys, aged six and two, two girls, aged 15 and 12, and 32-year-old Andy. They were all treated for the effects of smoke inhalation but none was thought to be seriously hurt. Neighbours helped family members down a ladder after being alerted by screams. The mother, Chris, was out at work.

In the second fire, neighbours used a sledgehammer to rescue smoker Eric Allsworth and his wife Dorothy. She survived the ordeal, but he was declared dead shortly afterwards.

Firefighters revealed later that although the house, in Spencer Crescent, Rose Hill, had a smoke detector, it was not fitted with a battery.

Mr Allsworth, 74, and his 68-year-old wife were dragged unconscious from the house after fire broke out soon after 9am. Mrs Allsworth is seriously ill in the John Radcliffe Hospital. Rescuer Bill Lock, 54, who worked with neighbours Philip Jameson, 32, Ron Mazey, 57, and Ron's daughter Donna, said: "Ron got a sledgehammer and smashed the door in. It was very difficult to get them out because of the smoke."

Station officer Francis Eckersley said: "If the smoke alarm had been working it could have saved Mr Allsworth's life."

The Oxford Mail launched its Get a Smoke Alarm campaign after toddler Ashley Towe died in a fire in Banbury.

Story date: Thursday 22 April

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