THE kitchen of a Southampton home caught fire when a man fell asleep while cooking burgers.

Firefighters were called to the house in Redbridge Hill at 3.05am yesterday.

The occupant, a 43-year-old man, had been cooking burgers in a pan on the stove, but had fallen asleep.

Even though his smoke alarm went |off, he did not wake up and his neighbours eventually called |firefighters who were forced to break into |the flat.

The man, who was uninjured in the incident, was woken up by the firefighters.

Speaking after the fire, watch manager Simon Packer said: |“I would like to warn people against leaving cooking unattended by being distracted, sitting down or falling asleep.

“You should always keep an eye on it.”