A child suffered burns to his hands and face last night in a blaze that broke out at his Suffolk home.

The four-year-old boy was taken to the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, by members of his family after they escaped the fire which started in their home in Woodlands Way, Mildenhall, just after 4pm.

The burns suffered by the boy were not considered to be life-threatening but the child was transferred to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

Two fire crews from Mildenhall and Newmarket and a support pump from Bury St Edmunds were called to the fire. Firefighters found the house unoccupied when they arrived, the boy having already been taken to hospital by his family.

The fire affected the first floor and roof of the semi-detached property.

Firefighters used breathing apparatus as they tackled the blaze. The fire in the first-floor bedroom was extinguished by 4.45pm before firefighters turned their attention to the roof.

Police also attended and followed the family to West Suffolk Hospital to check on the boy's condition. The fire was brought under control by 6.45pm and the Mildenhall crew remained at the scene to ensure the blaze was out. Last night, a fire investigation officer was at the scene trying to establish the cause of the blaze.