A passerby came to the help of people when they saw smoke coming from a house in Melksham and knocked on the door to warn them.

The drama started yesterday evening just before 9pm on Saturday in Forest Road.

A fire service spokesman said: "A crew from Trowbridge extinguished a chimney fire after a passerby raised the alarm by first knocking the door and getting the occupiers to leave the property before phoning 999 for the fire service."