The Fire and Rescue service in Bradford is issuing an appeal following two lucky escapes involving heaters and unattended ovens.

Fire crews from Fairweather Green were called to an incident on Wednesday night after an unattended space heater set fire to a bed in a house in Cemetery Road.

The house was being renovated at the time of the blaze and the owner was down stairs having left the heater unattended in an upstairs room.

The room was severely damaged in the fire which destroyed the bed and some of the floorboards. The owner of the property escaped unscathed but was badly shaken by the incident.

In a second incident yesterday crews were called to an address at Aberford Road in Whetley Hill. The male occupant had left the house leaving a pan still heating on the stove. Sometime later his wife returned to discover the house filled with dense black smoke.

Fairweather Green Crew manager Tony Goldwater said in both cases the individuals involved had been very lucky.

He said: "We would appeal to the public, especially after these two incidents to exercise care when using space heaters or cookers and not to leave them unattended or use them in proximity to flammable objects. Especially at this time of year many people are using such heaters and they can be extremely dangerous if left unattended.

"If you do discover a fire in your home close the door behind you, get you family out of the house and phone the Fire and Rescue Service. Do not re-enter the building under any circumstances."