Firefighters have praised a boy for directing them to a blaze last night after his family's kitchen caught fire.

Fire officers from Mitcham and Sutton fire stations were called to the terraced house in Montacute Road at 8.15pm.

A blaze had started in the Morden kitchen after food caught alight on the stove and spread to the ceiling as flames engulfed food deposits on the cooker's filter.

The child, who fire officers said was about 12 years old, ran to the end of the road to direct firefighters to the blaze after emergency services were called.

Firefighters put out the fire and saved the home, although there was smoke damage to part of the kitchen.

A Mitcham fire officer said: "The father was doing the cooking and the children were all upstairs with their mum.

"They didn't have a smoke alarm and I would like to stress the importance of having that first indicator.

"Fortunately the dad was standing over the cooker."

Firefighters attended the blaze in Montacute Road

He added: "The young lad came and met the fire brigade at the end of the road and directed the fire brigade to the scene and was praised for his actions."

No-one was injured.