A family of four were woken to their burning bathroom by "an explosion" in the early hours of this morning.

Firefighters from Banstead, Epsom and Sutton fire stations were called to the house in Garatts Lane, Banstead at about 3.20am.

Two firefighters entered the smoking bathroom wearing breathing apparatus and extinguished the fire using a hose reel.

The mother, father, and two children were able to escape the house without injuries, but were “a bit shaken”.

The bathroom was completely destroyed by the fire and the first floor of their house sustained smoke damage.

A spokesman from Banstead fire station said it was believed the bathtub was made out of acrylic - a highly flammable material.

He added: “They had no working smoke alarm in the house and were actually woken up by an explosion.

“So we must stress the importance of having a working smoke alarm on every floor of the house.

“They were a bit shaken no one was hurt.”

An investigation into the cause of the fire is being carried out.

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