A woman escaped unhurt when her burning toaster threatened to set her kitchen on fire.

Firefighters were called to the address in Greendale Court, Croydon, at 8.30pm last night, Friday, February 11.

A smoke alarm alerted the lady, believed to be in her 40s, to the fire, and neighbours called 999.

The kitchen suffered about 5 per cent damage.

A Croydon fire station spokesman said: “Obviously she was a bit upset because it was a bit of a mess with the smoke, but she was not injured physically in any way.”

He asked people who have oxygen cylinders in their properties to tell fire fighters this as soon as possible if they are called to their address.