FIREFIGHTERS are urging people to check their smoke alarms after a fire at a house in Trowbridge.

Crews were called out last Friday morning to a house in Lower Alma Street.

They used a revolutionary technique called positive pressure aggression to force smoke out of windows so they could reach the blaze.

Acting sub-officer Neil Hiscock said: "It worked superbly. It was an electrical fire and the lounge was very heavily smoke-logged.

"We carried out a thorough investigation and although the smoke alarm was positioned correctly it had no battery in it. Fortunately, one of the residents was in the shower and heard the crackling."

Mr Hiscock said the couple renting the house did not realise there was no battery in the alarm. "We would ask people to check to make sure there is both a working battery in their detector, and that the smoke alarm itself is working," he said.

Firefighters spent part of Friday taking leaflets and letters to homes in Harford Street, Ashton Street and Lower Alma Street to alert them to the issue.