FIREFIGHTERS rescued a 49-year-old woman after quick-thinking neighbours raised the alarm.

Esther and James Wong, of Basingfield Court, Old Basing, became concerned when they smelt burning plastic at about 10pm last Thursday.

They realised the smell was coming from their neighbour’s house, saw smoke bellowing from the upstairs rear window and heard a fire alarm going off.

After repeatedly ringing the doorbell and getting no reply, they dialled 999.

Mrs Wong, 42, (pictured) said: “We were scared for her and also the neighbourhood because the houses are so close.”

Firefighters entered by breaking into the back door and found the woman semi-conscious in the dining room. The blaze in the room was thought to have started in the woman’s TV before spreading to the curtains.

The woman was taken to Basingstoke hospital for treatment but was not thought to be in a life-threatening condition.

Basingstoke fire station Green Watch manager John Amos said the smoke alarm and the quick-thinking neighbours had helped to save the woman’s life.

He said: “Her neighbours heard the alarm and called us, so it goes to show the importance of a smoke alarm and making sure the batteries are checked.”