FIRE officers are hoping a blaze at a house in Winsford will encourage other residents to ensure they have working smoke detectors in their home.

Firefighters were called to Arkwright Close at 10.10pm on Thursday and battled for three hours to contain the fire.

The blaze started after a candle was left unattended and fire officers are now hoping to make people aware of the many dangers of fire in the home.

Nick Cox, fire community safety officer, said: "When officers arrived there were flames coming out of every door, window and the roof.

"The house is absolutely gutted and there is nothing left inside."

Firefighter Darren Hickson said: "It was a very intense fire that spread very quickly. Luckily there were no people reported inside so we could fight the fire from the outside."

Fire officers visited nearby homes on Friday morning to ensure they were fitted with smoke detectors and offer advice on fire safety.

Officer Cox said: "The houses in this area are owned by Riverside Housing and they have hardwire detectors but some of them aren't working and I'll be getting on to them about that because it is very worrying."

Officer Cox is now warning people over the risk of naked flames within the home.

He said: "My advice would be to not have candles in the home at all but I realise that people will do.

"With Christmas on the way it is important that if people do have candles in the home they are never left unattended.

"On this occasion a candle was left for just 10 minutes but that's all it took for the fire to spread so rapidly through the home."