Cat starts fire by turning on cooker with paw

A cat has run up a repair bill of thousands of pounds after starting a fire by flicking on the hob with one of its paws.

The owners of the ground-floor flat in Costessey, Norfolk, got home on Wednesday to discover their home ablaze.

Their pet had scampered across the electric cooker - turning it on - before sending a teabag box onto the hot hob, sparking the blaze.

The couple, in their 30s, tried to battle the fire, but were overcome by smoke and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

^{The ground floor flat in Costessey where the cat started a fire (DENISE BRADLEY)}

Fire crews were called at about 2.20pm before dousing the blaze and rescuing three pets - a kitten, dog and the cat that started the fire.

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Rob Burling, from Earlham fire station, said: "The cat had knocked one of the hot plates on an electric cooker on before sending a teabag box and other bits and bobs crashing onto the hob.

"It took a while to heat up and catch fire, but when it did, it smoke-logged the property. Unfortunately, the occupants who returned went back in and suffered smoke inhalation.

"They were waiting for us when we got there. Two firefighters went in with breathing apparatus. A kitten, the cat and a dog were rescued."

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The fire had started to spread, but was contained in the kitchen. However, the rest of the property was smoke-logged as doors were left open.