FIREFIFGHTERS are warning people to regularly clean their fireplaces after a chimney blaze at a Hampshire home.

Crews from Winchester fire station were called to a house in Winnall Manor Road, Winnall, at 9pm last night after a family living there raised the alarm.

The crews used a chimney kit to put out the badly smoking stack before checking the property was safe.

Firefighter Ellie Toms said the crews left within an hour after checking no damage was caused and added: “We are warning people to make sure their chimneys are swept each year.”