A 100-year-old woman’s front room caught alight after she left her gas fire unattended for "a few moments".

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Cassiobury Drive at 2.14pm today.

Marjorie Cotterell, who owns the house, switched on the gas fire in her front room before leaving to go to the kitchen. When she returned to the room she found it on fire.

Ms Cotterell’s neighbour, Sarah Swanwick, said: "I had just got home from shopping when I heard something next door. I went round and saw the smoke and called the fire brigade straight away. I think she lit the fire and then went into the kitchen for just a few moments."

She added: "Marjorie is very shaken up but she’s fine. She’s very independent and with it and just can’t believe this has happened."

Fire crews from Watford and Garston attended the scene and extinguished the blaze.

Watford Observer:

Picture: @jamjammcd via Twitter

Lee Haward, Watch Commander, said: "Luckily no one was hurt. We believe it started in the front room but we will know more once we can go in and investigate."