A MAN and a woman needed hospital treatment for smoke inhalation following a house fire.

The couple, believed to be both in their late 50s, were treated following the blaze in Landsdowne Road, Worcester, at 11.50pm on Wednesday.

The fire is thought to have been started by a cigarette in the first floor bathroom of the three-storey home.

Alec Mackie, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman, said: “It would appear it was caused by a still lit cigarette end which had been put out in a bin or other receptacle.

“The lady had gone to bed and when the other occupant arrived home and walked through the front door they heard the smoke alarms going off.”

Crews from Worcester attended but everybody was out of the house by the time firefighters arrived.A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said two people were treated at the scene before being taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.