THREE students fled their home feeling unwell after their carbon monoxide alarm started beeping last night.

The women, all in their twenties, raised the alarm at around 7pm when they realised they all felt the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and firefighters from Wokingham Road rushed to the house in Foxhill Road accompanied by the hazardous chemicals unit.

But after a thorough investigation of the property firefighters found no trace of the deadly gas - which can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, altering states of consciousness and weakness - while the three students were treated by paramedics, but not taken to hospital.

A firefighter spokesman said that because the girls opened all the windows the gas may have dispersed and warned landlords and tenants to make sure alarms are working and fitted with fresh batteries.