Seven people were taken to hospital following an accidental house fire in Stoke-on-Trent. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue deemed the blaze on Hillary Street in Cobridge to have been caused by a candle falling onto a pile of clothes. 

The alarm was first raised just after 3am on Saturday 14 June and the West Midlands Ambulance Service took two boys, two men and three police officers to hospital for further checks. 

Three fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended the scene and the fire service says the first floor of the house was "well alight" on arrival.

Other neighbouring properties were evacuated while the situation unfolded. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue says the seven taken to hospital are thought to have "minor injuries". 

Station manager, Mark Tattum said: "Fire crews worked quickly to extinguish this fire when the alarm was raised by police officers who spotted it while patrolling.

"Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but it goes to show how easily accidental fires can happen, particularly when naked flames are used indoors."

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called by the police to reports of a property fire on Hillary Street, Stoke on Trent at 3.25am on Saturday.

"Three ambulances and a paramedic officer responded to the scene along with police and fire colleagues. On arrival crews found four occupants in the property who had been injured.

"Two men and two boys received treatment by ambulance staff before being conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further care.

"Three police officers were also assessed by ambulance colleagues and conveyed to hospital for further checks."

-------

READ: Former Conservative Club in Newcastle-under-Lyme can be turned into 15-bed HMO

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - or just click the green 'SUBSCRIBE' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook, X or Instagram.