A WARNING has been issued about not having a smoke alarm at home following a blaze in Colindale on Thursday.

Firefighters from Hendon and Stanmore were called out to a house in Pear Close at about 4am and were able to get the fire under control by 5.30am.

Severe damage was caused to the building's loft conversion and a woman was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

An inspection of the home discovered it did not have a working smoke alarm, prompting a message to be issued by firefighters.

Watch Manager Michael Passingham said: “Everyone should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of their home and the safest option is have those linked together.

"This will give the earliest warning if there is a fire."

It is believed the fire was caused by an accidental electrical fault.

Another man who had been inside the house escaped uninjured.