FIREFIGHTERS are urging householders to be careful while cooking after leading a Blackburn resident to safety following a kitchen incident.

Neighbours of a man living at a flat in Spring Bank Terrace alerted the fire service after they heard a smoke detector sounding at around 7pm on Sunday night.

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Firefighter Alice O'Donnell said the attending crew broke into the first floor flat and led the man, thought to be aged around 40, to safety.

"He had left a pan of food on the hob and fallen asleep. The flat was full of smoke," she said.

Heavy-duty fans were used to clear the property and the man did not require any further medical attention.