Firefighters have stressed the importance of smoke alarms after an Ipswich family were alerted to a potentially fatal blaze at their home.

East Anglian Daily Times: A derelict building was hit by fire in the early hours of the morning Picture: PHIL MORLEYA derelict building was hit by fire in the early hours of the morning Picture: PHIL MORLEY (Image: Archant)

Two fire crews rushed to the property on Bull Road in Ipswich shortly after 5am this morning following reports of a domestic flat fire.

Firefighters spent just under an hour bringing the blaze on the third-floor under control using specialist equipment.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue confirmed that a young family had managed to escape the property after being alerted to the blaze by their smoke alarm. Two cats were also rescued from the property.

A stop was called on the incident shortly before 6am.