HERO neighbours came to the aid of a woman after a chocolate sponge she was cooking in the microwave caught fire. 

Janice Ellis told how neighbours rushed to help when she entered the kitchen and found herself 'surrounded' by smoke.

Janice, who lives in the flat on Essex Road, said: “I was in the living room watching TV, then all of a sudden I thought I would go into the kitchen.

“I went in, opened the door and I was surrounded by smoke, loads of it.”

Janice opened her front door and a neighbour from across the road came over with a friend to see what was going on.

They were invited in by Janice and they decided to call the fire brigade and help her find the source of the smoke.

Soon afterwards the husband of the neighbour from across the road also came into the house to help.

Janice said: “He was very good. He took all the plugs out and looked around.”

She added: “I found it very encouraging. It was the first time I had spoken to them.”

Janice eventually found the smoke was coming from a chocolate sponge she had left to cook in the microwave and forgotten about.

She said: “I never dreamt of looking in the microwave and then I looked and all this smoke came out.”

She added: “I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t noticed it.”

Two fire crews then arrived and investigated the house while Janice and her neighbours stood outside.

Janice said they identified the source of the smoke as coming from the microwave and switched the machine off, though she said she was asked by a fireman to leave it alone as there were still a few flames left over inside.

Nobody was injured during the incident.

Janice also has two cats and was looking after a dog for a friend, but all the pets were safe outside.

She said: “Thank you very much for helping me, my neighbours across the road.”

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to the flat on Essex Road at 8.24pm on Monday.

If you are the neighbours who came to help Janice, get in touch with the Dorset Echo by email at newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk or phone us on 01305 830999