A family of ten have been evacuated from their home in Dundalk, Co. Louth after a fire in an unoccupied house next door spread to theirs.

It happened in the Dulargy Avenue area of Muirhevnamor last night.

Five units of the fire service spent more than 5 hours dealing with the incident after the blaze broke out at around 7pm.

Two dogs were also rescued and a third house which was also unoccupied was also badly damaged.

Gardai are investigating and are due to carry out a technical examination of the scene.