EMERGENCY crews were called to a bungalow early this morning to rescue an elderly resident from her burning house.

Police alerted firefighters to the blaze in Osbert Place, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, shortly at 5am fearing a resident was trapped inside.

The elderly occupant was able to escape the fire and was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel for smoke inhalation before being taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze by 6am though the semi-detached property was severely damaged.