RESIDENTS of four terraced houses were evacuated when a fire broke out in the roof of a house in Cookley.

A fault in electrical wiring is thought to have caused the blaze, which destroyed the roof space at the house in Lionfield Road and caused smoke damage to three adjoining properties.

The occupants escaped the fire, which began shortly after 11am on Sunday morning, when sparks started flying in the loft area and water leaked through the ceiling, which then collapsed.

Two crews from Kidderminster spent more than three hours battling the blaze.