A NEIGHBOUR rescued a man who was trapped in his burning home early today.

The man, thought to be in his 30s, shouted to his neighbours for help as he could not open a latch on his living room window.

His next door neighbour and a neighbour living across the road heard his cries for help and went to his rescue.

The man, who did not need hospital treatment, fell asleep at his home in Andrew Close, Blackburn, while watching the Champions League match between Manchester United and AC Milan, which United lost 3-0 but left food cooking on his grill.

He woke up to the sound of the fire alarm at about 1am and could not see his way to the front door because of the thick smoke so tried to open his window.

He opened it part of the way and released one lock but could not release the second which the man from across the road did for him and helped him out of the house.

Blackburn crew manager Mick Angland said: "He's been woken by the alarm and the house was full of smoke so he couldn't exit. He went to the window but couldn't open the latch fully so he started shouting for help and a next door neighbour heard his shout for help and went to his rescue.

"He's really lucky. It's unlikely he'll be able to go back for a few weeks."

The Twin Valley house suffered smoke damage throughout and the kitchen had some fire damage.

The man had two cats which also escaped intact.