A fire at a home in Chilworth ripped through a garage and ground-floor kitchen and destroyed a car.

According to neighbours a husband and wife live at the home in Pine Walk and were inside when the fire started at 3.29am yesterday.

It is unclear whether they were injured but residents said they were taken to hospital for a check-up.

Sixteen firefighters from St Mary’s and Hightown fire stations fought the flames which also caused some minor damage to an exterior wall of the house next door.

The fire was out by 4.46am, say the fire service

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It was horrible. We could smell the smoke and got all the family out of the house when we realised.

“All the flames were contained under the garage but it really smelt.

“The woman was in tears and didn’t know what to do.

“The damage is awful and such a shame so close to Christmas.”

A firefighter confirmed that the blaze is not being treated as suspicious.