A house caught alight after a cigarette set ivy on fire in a south Cambridgeshire village this morning (Tuesday).

Saffron Walden Reporter: Fire at Great Chishill home. Picture: Cambs Fire Service.Fire at Great Chishill home. Picture: Cambs Fire Service. (Image: Archant)

Firefighters from Saffron Walden, Royston, Cambridge, Cottenham and Huntingdon, were called to Barley Road, Great Chishill, at 2.46am.

They arrived to find the roof of the house alight.

A man in his 60s was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation, but didn’t require hospital treatment.

Station commander Wayne Swales, the officer in charge at the scene, said: “The crews did a fantastic job containing the fire to the roof space and stopping the fire spreading to other parts of the property.

“The fire was started by a carelessly discarded cigarette that set alight some ivy at the side of the property. If you do smoke you should dispose of any smoking materials in a metal container and ensure they are fully extinguished.”