AN ELDERLY woman needed hospital treatment after an electrical heater caused a blaze at her home in the early hours of this morning (Friday).

Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters battled the fire at the semi-detached house in Carlton Way, Barkingside from about 3am.

About half of the building's ground floor was damaged during the blaze, which firefighters from Woodford, Hainault and Ilford stations managed to get under control by 4.37am.

The pensioner is thought to have got out of the house before the fire brigade arrived and was treated by ambulance crew.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: "It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical heater being left on (or) too close to some clothing which caught fire.

"For fire safety advice on how to use electrical heaters safely go to the Brigade's website london-fire.gov.uk/HeatingAndFire.asp.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.