There was a rude awakening for one Porthleven household early this morning when their water heater caught alight.

Firefighters from Helston and Tolvaddon were called to South View at 3.10am today after the heater was found to be on fire in an immersion cupboard on the first floor of a semi-detached dormer bungalow.

Shortly after they arrived a back-up crew from Mullion was scrambled.

Crews were forced to wear breathing equipment while putting out the flames with two hosereel jets, due to the amount of smoke.

It was believed that the fire may have spread into the roof and two firefighters also wearing breathing apparatus were sent up to look, using heat seeking cameras to monitor for hot spots.