A woman in her 70s was treated for smoke inhalation after her house caught fire yesterday.

The woman, of Elms Farm Road in Hornchurch, managed to escape the blaze before the fire brigade arrived, thanks to her working smoke alarm.

About a quarter of the first floor of her house was damaged in the fire, which is thought to have started in an upstairs bedroom.

Firefighters from Hornchurch and Dagenham were called at about 2.45pm and spent two hours on the scene. Paramedics treated the woman but she did not need to be taken to hospital.

Were you there? Call the news desk on 020 8477 3903 or e-mail ramzy.alwakeel@archant.co.uk.