A SMALL fire at the Duke of Westminster’s Eaton Hall home was sparked by an electrical fault on a tumble drier in the basement.

Five fire engines, the aerial appliance and the environmental protection unit attended the Grosvenor family private residence at 11am on Saturday in Belgrave Avenue, Eccleston.

There was no flame but smoke-logging in a laundry area when four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets and one covering jet to extinguish the fire.

Two large fans were used to clear smoke from the property. It is thought neither the Duke nor Duchess of Westminster were at home at the time.