A MAN of 75 and a woman of 67 were taken to Whiston Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after an oven fire in Byron Avenue, Whiston, on Monday, January 8.

Merseyside Fire Brigade spokesman Mike Harris said that although there was a smoke alarm in the house, the battery had been taken out. He added: "I can't stress enough that smoke alarms are invaluable when it comes to saving lives."