MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service is warning of the dangers of leaving cooking unattended after a woman was rescued from her Birkenhead flat following a chip pan fire.

Fire crews from Birkenhead, Wallasey and Bromborough were called to Devonshire Place on Tuesday evening after smoke alarms activated.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze and led the occupier to safety. She was checked by paramedics at the scene.

Wallasey fire station watch manager Ben Flint, who attended the incident, said: “Chip pan fires are very dangerous and give off a lot of smoke and heat, as well as having the potential to spread in an unpredictable way.

“We urge people not to leave cooking unattended, even for a short time.

"We also urge residents to have working smoke alarms on each level of their home and, in line with our general fire safety advice, we ask people not to cook any food if they are very tired.”

For free fire safety advice call 0800 7315 958 or go online to www.merseyfire.gov.uk