A PET parrot and cat have been killed in a Oswaldtwistle house fire.

They died after a tumble dryer caught fire in the front room of a home in Frederick Street at around 4.50pm today.

Two dogs, believed to be a Jack Russell and a terrier, were rescued by firefighters from Accrington Fire Station.

Watch manager Gary Drinkwater said: "The lady occupier had left the tumble dryer on while she popped to the shop but she got talking and the tumble dryer set itself on fire.

"She was very lucky because there were no smoke alarms in the premises.

"It was lucky she had gone out. If it was at night, it could have been a different story."

Firefighters wore breathing masks to enter the middle-aged woman's terraced home and rescue the two dogs.

The front room was badly damaged by fire, while the remainder of the house suffered severe smoke damage, Mr Drinkwater added.