A fire badly damaged a Hitchin home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Four fire crews tackled the blaze at the rear of the semi-detached home on Tristram Road after receiving an emergency call shortly after 3.45am.

The fire, thought to have started in the conservatory, left the extension a smouldering wreck and damaged both floors of the building.

It was declared out just before 6.30am.

No-one was hurt in the incident which fire investigators said was accidental.