A woman and her young children, including a baby, have had a lucky escape after a fire started in their Mitcham home.

The fire brigade were called at 11.40am on Saturday, February 6, after a fire broke out in the kitchen of the house in Belgrave Walk, Mitcham.

A spokesman from the fire service said the fire began after the woman left a pile of clothes on top of her oven, not realising that one of the hobs was still on.

He said: “It could have been a really serious fire, but fortunately she had a working smoke alarm.

"It could have been a lot worse.

“Fortunately she was in the flat with her kids, and became aware of the fire very quickly and was able to get them all out.”

No one was hurt in the fire, but the kitchen and front room of the property had extensive smoke damage.