AN asthmatic woman had to be given oxygen when a fire started outside her home.

Firefighters were called to the house in Langford Gardens, Lever Edge, at around 9pm last night where a blaze had started in a small compound containing bins.

The fire, suspected to have been started deliberately, caused some damage to the outside of the house, and two women and one man had to be evacuated.

One woman, aged in her 40s, was given first aid after suffering an asthma attack caused by the smoke. Police are investigating the cause of the fire.