A NUMBER of homes were evacuated after a fire took hold in a vacant house in Winsford this morning.

Emergency services were called an address in Brecon Way just after 5am.

A fire broke out in the back yard and neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Three fire engines attended a fire at a Winsford property which caused neighbouring houses to be evacuated.

“The fire was in the back yard of the house and had spread to the windows of the building, which was unoccupied.

“As a precaution the neighbouring houses were evacuated as crews tackled the fire using a hose reel jet.

"They then cleared the property of smoke and were at the scene for around fifty minutes.”