A TOASTER malfunctioned and caught fire at a student block.

It was left unattended before it burst into flames and ‘severely damaged’ part of the shared kitchen.

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Firefighters from Oxford’s Slade Park and Rewley Road stations arrived within minutes to Windmill Road in Headington at 7pm yesterday.

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The kitchen was full of thick smoke, but fire doors had stopped it spreading to other halls.

Taking to Facebook, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue said the ‘accident’ was a reminder of vital fire safety.

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It wrote: “This accidental fire really shows the importance especially in student accommodation of ensuring fire doors are kept clear and not wedged, knowing what to do and how to safely exit a building, and a fully working alarm system which prevented a much more significant fire.”