Neighbour rescues woman from fire

A woman was rescued by her neighbour after a fire broke out in her house in west Dorset.

Police and fire crews were called to Canberra Road in Weymouth early on Sunday after the blaze started in the conservatory of the house.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said that when they arrived a "vigilant neighbour" had already forced the door, found the woman and led her to safety.

She was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation but was later released.

Several pets were also rescued unhurt.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said they had received calls saying the resident of the house was trapped inside.

Smoke damaged

She said: "On arrival, the occupant had already been rescued by a vigilant neighbour.

"He had forced the door and made his way to the first floor to lead her to safety.

"Although this is not an action the fire service would recommend, fortunately no further lives were endangered."

The conservatory was completely destroyed in the fire, which took an hour to get under control. The rest of the house was smoke damaged.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known but Dorset Police said crime scene investigators were being sent out later.