FIREFIGHTERS called to a house fire in Acomb, York, discovered five smoke alarms in the detached property - but a fire service spokesman said none of them had working batteries.

Fire crews rescued a 48-year-old man from the house, in Hamilton Drive East, after a fire broke out in the kitchen.

The man, who was taken to York Hospital suffering smoke inhalation injuries, had been in another part of the house when the blaze broke out at 11.30pm on Saturday .

The householder was today identified as Tommy Bee by his son, Daniel Bee, 22, who also lives in Hamilton Drive East. He said his father was still in hospital, but was recovering.

Commenting on his father's smoke alarms, he said: "He's just the same as everybody - people's batteries run out in their smoke alarms and they just forget about replacing them."

Investigators believe the cause of the fire was a chip pan left unattended on the cooker. The kitchen was badly damaged by heat and smoke.

Terry Glover, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service press officer, said: "All too often we are coming across fires where batteries have been removed, and people are dying."

The service sells smoke alarms with a ten-year lithium battery. It also keeps a database of the alarms it sells so customers can be reminded when their battery's life is about to end. Phone 01609 781150 to buy a long-life smoke alarm.

Updated: 10:32 Monday, October 13, 2003