A PET dog died after a house in Birkenhead went up in flames in the early hours of this morning.

Fire crews were called to the incident in Woodchurch Road at around 1.30am.

It is thought the blaze started in the front living room of the end terraced house and spread to the hallway.

The back room and first-floor bedrooms were also heat and smoke damaged.

A 21-year-old man was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation while a 22-year-old was treated at the scene.

A Merseyside Fire spokeswoman said the fire was extinguished by 2.45am.

An investigation is now underway into the cause of the fire.