A FAMILY of six fled their burning house after a cardboard box caught light on an oven's hob.

Two adults and four children escaped from their semi-detached home at Moser Crescent, Swain House, Bradford, on Sunday night, after the blaze engulfed the kitchen.

Fire crews from Idle and Bradford fire stations were called at 9.50pm.

Idle fire station watch commander Dean Lodge said: "They were all out, but the kitchen was totally engulfed in fire when we got there."

Once firefighters had put out the flames, they ventilated the property using fans, he said.

He said: "It completely destroyed the kitchen, and the rest of the house was smoke damaged."

Mr Lodge said they called in the help of the Red Cross Fire Emergency Support Unit, which helps families in the aftermath of fires secure their properties and contact their insurers.

He said it wasn't clear how the box had ended up on the hob, but warned householders never to place flammable materials on hobs even when they were off, saying they could stay hot for some time after use.