The manager of a sheltered accommodation housing scheme has been hailed for her quick reactions as she evacuated elderly residents after a fire was started in the kitchen of a flat.

Firefighters tackled the blaze in Alfred Court in Furlong Road, Bourne End, after it was started when an oven grill was accidentally turned up instead of off, Bucks Fire and Rescue said.

It is believed, a woman who lived in the flat was helped outside by Cath Evans, the Anchor Trust scheme manager, who also ensured all other residents were evacuated quickly.

She said: “Everything happened so quickly; my instincts just kicked in. I had attended Anchor's training courses on how to deal with a fire, but you hope you’ll never have to put it into practice.

“My priority is always to make sure that all the residents are safe - I am very happy that no one was seriously injured.”

Ms Evans was praised by the on-scene Bucks Fire and Rescue Watch Commander Alex Strand.

He said: “The manager was very quick to act on their emergency evacuation plan and she was able to get everyone out before we arrived and she then assisted as we went in.

“The fire itself was not too bad, but the smoke can cause problems. However, we were able to deal with it fairly quickly and their fire safety measures appeared to do the job in minimising the risk.”

In tackling the blaze, two crews of firefighters used one hose reel, two sets of breathing apparatus, a positive pressure ventilation fan and a thermal imaging camera.

The occupant of the flat was taken to Wexham Park Hospital after suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke but South Central Ambulance Service has not confirmed her condition.