AN elderly man was rescued when fire broke out in the lounge of his home in Church Lane, Burnsall, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Neighbours rushed into the house and assisted him to escape when the smoke alarm was triggered shortly before 3am.

He was treated by paramedics and taken to Airedale General Hospital for a precautionary check-up.

Fire crew manager, Jonny Metcalfe, said: "When we arrived he was being pulled out of the door.

"Without the alarm being heard by his neighbour, he would have struggled to escape. The smoke alarm, which was fitted by us, saved his life."

The source of the outbreak was the hearth area and a fire investigation was being carried out. Crews used one hose reel.