A WOMAN was forced to jump from a first floor bedroom window of a derelict house after a cigarette set fire to the mattress she was sleeping on.

Joanne Conroy, 27, of Bellfield Road, Accrington, told fire and police officers that she fell asleep in the house in Augusta Street, Accrington, after returning to visit what was her mother's old home.

She fell asleep in the bedroom and only woke up when the mattress was on fire.

Station officer John Pinnar said the woman jumped out of the window onto the lower kitchen roof and was then helped by a neighbour to the ground.

She has since been interviewed by police.

Mr Pinnar said: "The message from this is that people have to be very careful with cigarettes. This could have been a lot worse.

"The whole top floor of the house has been badly damaged."

Fire crews went into the house after being told there was a dog in the burning building but did not find it.

The fire was reported a 8.47pm yesterday.