Firefighters were called to the home of Manchester United star Chris Smalling - after his hot tub caught fire.

Emergency crews rushed to the plush pad on millionaires' row in Bowdon, Altrincham, last night after the device caught alight in the back garden.

It’s understood that the Reds defender was not at home at the time and the incident was caused by an electrical fault.

Police patrolling the area spotted smoke coming from the star’s property and went to investigate. They discovered a large fire involving the whirlpool bath which had spread to some decking behind the home.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Just after 8pm on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, a crew from Altrincham Fire Station attended a house in Altrincham after reports of a fire in a back garden.”

Watch Manager Stuart France said: “Police were in the area when they spotted smoke and reported a fire to our control centre.

"When we arrived it was quite a large fire involving a whirlpool bath and decking, which could have easily become something more serious.

"The police officers who were at the scene used a garden hose on the fire and when we arrived we extinguished it using a hose reel. The most likely cause was an accidental electrical fault.”

Smalling posted a picture on his Instagram account last night which appeared to show him enjoying a poker night.