Three dogs saved from Ludlow house fire

Three dogs had to be rescued from a house by neighbours after a kitchen fire broke out while the owners were out.

The fire, at a house in Chestnut Grove in Ludlow, caused significant smoke damage to the inside of the property. But a search of the premises by firefighters found nobody in at the time of the blaze, and it has been revealed neighbours released the dogs before the emergency services arrived.

Police believe the fire, which broke out at about 8.45am yesterday, was started by accident and said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Crews from Ludlow, Craven Arms and Tenbury Wells were called to the scene to tackle the flames. A neighbouring property was also checked for damage using a thermal imaging camera.

Richard Ewels, spokesman for West Mercia Police, said: "Police were notified about a house fire in Chestnut Grove in Ludlow shortly before 9am yesterday. The fire service searched the premises and found there was no-one inside. Three dogs were released from the property by neighbours.

"There were no suspicious circumstances and the fire is believed to have been caused accidentally. The property was badly smoke damaged."

The owners of the home returned to the property yesterday but declined to comment.