A PENSIONER was led to safety from his smoke filled kitchen this afternoon after a microwave was left on the hob of an electric cooker.

Two fire crews from Stockton attended the cottage, off The Green in Norton, at 4.28pm.

They gave the man oxygen and he was then checked over by paramedics.

The fire was out on arrival but the kitchen was left smoke damaged and the microwave was destroyed. The crews were at the scene for half an hour.