The fire service is calling for smoke alarms to be regularly maintained after a pregnant woman required hospital treatment following a house fire this morning.

Two fire engines attended the scene in Ewart Place, Great Horton, Bradford, at around 3am.

When they arrived the fire had been extinguished by the woman who later had to be taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The house was fitted with smoke alarms but they were not functional, according to a spokesman for Odsal fire station.

"This had the potential to be a very serious incident," he said.

"When we arrived the pregnant woman had put out the fire but there was extensive smoke damage to the house.

"There were young children sleeping upstairs and it could have been very nasty.

"We would like to take this opportunity to remind people to maintain their smoke alarms.

"If you are not sure how to do this we provide a free service and will check them for you. It could save your life."

No one was injured in the fire and although the woman was taken to hospital it is believed to have been merely a precautionary measure.