AN elderly couple whose kitchen caught on fire after they left food cooking have been forced out of their home due to smoke damage.

Firefighters scrambled to Crowmarsh Gifford yesterday afternoon after a passer-by heard alarms ringing and spotted clouds of smoke swirling inside. 

Crews arrived at the house in Newnham Drive at 1pm and quickly tamed the flames, but the heat and smoke damage left it "uninhabitable". 

The couple had left food cooking on a gas hob while they left the house, returning back shortly afterwards to find the fire engines outside.

Incident commander Jon Walker, from Didcot Fire Station, said: “The fire itself was confined to the kitchen, however the heat and smoke damage was evident throughout the property and as a result it will be uninhabitable for some time.

“Following our fire investigation we believe the cause of the fire was cooking on the gas hob that had been left unattended.

"The fire damage was limited predominantly to the kitchen due to the actions of a concerned passer-by who heard the alarms operating inside property and quickly raised the alarm."

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it "strongly urged" people not to leave cooking unattended, adding: "It only takes a moment for fire to start."

It advised residents to switch off cooking appliances and remove food from hot areas if leaving the house, and make sure there is a working smoke alarm on every floor.