FIREFIGHTERS in the region are warning people to make sure that smoke alarms are fitted with batteries.

The appeal follows an incident in Redcar early yesterday morning.

A flat in the town's Mersey Road suffered 80 per cent smoke damage and severe fire and heat damage to the kitchen, following a chip pan fire.

The blaze broke out after a woman occupant of the council flat left a chip pan on and fell asleep.

Two men returned from a party to find the house full of smoke. They woke the girl and got her out of the flat, then tried to put the fire out. Firefighters from Redcar put out the blaze.

The woman and one of the men, both aged 24, and a dog, all suffered from the effects of smoke inhalation. The man was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure. Firefighters also gave him oxygen.

Station officer Dave Firth said the flat had a smoke alarm, but the battery had been removed.

He said: "If you have a smoke alarm, it is pointless having it without the battery.