A MOTHER and two children escaped injury when their mobile home set on fire.

The blaze in the static caravan, parked at the Whinney Hill Caravan Site, Bolton Avenue, Altham, started just before 10.30am yesterday.

Firefighters were at the scene within minutes and say a neighbour raised the alarm after hearing the smoke alarm in the caravan.

By the time crews arrived a woman and her 13-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, had been led to safety and treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Station officer Andy Taylor, of Accrington Fire Station, said: "We originally thought the children were inside the caravan but fortunately by the time we got there they were out, because when caravans go they go. There's not much to them.

"If there had been people in it would have been pretty severe because it was going well and there not separated from the neighbours by very much."

The fire was probably caused by an electric bar heater, he said.

"Caravans are pretty confined and it doesn't need to be that close to set fire to it. It's very lucky they had a smoke alarm. That's where they come into their own because when you are asleep it's like someone watching over you. And if you don't hear it there's a chance someone else will."