A HOUSE and garage were left badly damaged by fire after household ashes were put in a plastic bin.

Firefighters yesterday issued a warning for people to be more careful how they dispose of ashes following the blaze at Carthorpe, near Bedale.

They were called to the house at 8.19am on Saturday. The fire was already well established in the garage and had spread to the attached bungalow when crews arrived from Bedale and Masham.

Two appliances also arrived from Northallerton.

The garage was destroyed and a third of the bungalow's roof damaged.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire Brigade said: "It cannot be stressed enough that it is extremely dangerous to empty the contents of the hearth into any plastic container, even when the ashes appear to be cold.

"These ashes should be put into a suitable metal bin or bucket and then removed to a suitable container outside the property.

"The outcome of this fire, although very serious, could have been far worse had the owner not been alerted as soon as they were."