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Staff and residents at a High Wycombe care home had to be evacuated this morning after a fire ripped through the living room.

Firefighters from High Wycombe, Beaconsfield and Amersham were called out to Shelburne Lodge Care Home, in Rutland Street, at 9.18am to reports of a blaze in the ground floor living room.

Bucks Fire spokesman Fraser Pearson said the fire started in a lamp and spread to a bookshelf, causing smoke to start filling the lounge area.

It then started to spread through vents to the upper floors.

Mr Pearson said: "The care workers knew exactly what to do and started a phased evacuation.

"Of the 43 residents, 21 were evacuated and there were no injuries.

"The first fire engine at the scene was from High Wycombe, with the crew quickly bringing the fire under control."

Fire crews helped the care home staff to place all the residents back into care as many of them were unable to walk.

They used three hose reels and six sets of breathing apparatus, ventilated the area and gave advice.

Watch Commander Andrew Holtzhausen, from Beaconsfield Fire Station, said: “I would like to praise the crews for their rapid work and quick decision-making as well as the staff at the facility, who did a great job.”

Firefighters will be returning to the care home soon to give a fire safety talk to residents and staff, and there are plans for a joint fire safety exercise in future.