AN elderly woman was taken to hospital with severe burns to her head and hands after she was rescued from her house by firefighters.

The woman, who has not been named, was believed to be in a stable condition at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, last night.

Neighbours called the fire brigade when they saw smoke coming from the house in Grange Estate, Lazenby, near Redcar, yesterday afternoon.

Two fire crews from Grangetown station and one from Redcar responded.

The woman was discovered in the smoke-filled kitchen soon after firefighters entered the house.

Station sub-officer Denis Whitton said: "We found the lady very quickly in the ground floor of the house and brought her out to the ambulance in less than a minute.

"She had severe burns to her head and was also suffering from smoke inhalation.

"Early indications look like it was an electrical fire in the kitchen, and it was down to the quick-thinking of her neighbours that made the difference."

The fire broke out at 2pm yesterday, causing fire damage to the kitchen and severe smoke damage to the rest of the house.

Mr Whitton said: "This should act as a warning to everyone. The house had smoke alarms fitted, but there were no batteries in them, which renders them useless."