COUNTY Durham firefighters are urging householders to ensure they have smoke alarms fitted upstairs.

The warning came after they tackled a fire in the bathroom of a house in Sheelin Avenue, Chester-le-Street, that started when a defective immersion heater set an airing cupboard ablaze yesterday.

The female occupant was out at the time but returned to find smoke pouring out of the bathroom window.

Two crews, from Durham and High Handenhold, fought the fire, which severely damaged the bathroom.

Divisional Officer Ian Dockerty said: "She did have a smoke alarm fitted but it was at the bottom of the stairs. It is the wrong place really.

"It was working but it didn't activate because smoke rises and the fire was upstairs.

"If the fire had happened at night, the story could have been a lot different.

"In the past we have had fires where people died because they only had a smoke alarm downstairs.

"If you only have one smoke alarm you should have it at the top of the stairs so it can detect smoke from any fires that start upstairs."