FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze which completely destroyed part of a maisonette.

It started with a fault in the tumble dryer in the kitchen at the property in Spitfire End, Winnall, at around 6.25pm yesterday.

Eleven firefighters from Winchester Station attended, and watchmanager David Bowen said the fire alarm saved the couple, who escaped with their cat.

Their neighbour, Darren Wright, said he was in the shower at the time.

“He came downstairs and knocked on our door,” he said.

“He was just concerned about our kids and told us to get outside. We have gas boilers so the whole place could have blown up.

“We've just got to keep an eye on the ceiling now because of all the water.”

The couple were not at the flat this morning, but their burnt-out tumble dryer was outside.

Watchmanager Bowen said the fire was “pretty severe” and the couple will not be able to live there now.

“We would advise people to test their smoke alarms once a week,” he said.

“They were in another room and the smoke alarm alerted them to the fire and they got themselves out whilst rescuing their cat.”