AN elderly woman was rescued from her home in Regent Street, Nelson, last night after a fire started in her kitchen.

Firefighters were called to the house at 7.55pm after a cleaning cloth near the cooker started smouldering.

The woman was taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up .

Sub-officer Lee Flattery said: "When we arrived the house was smokelogged and there were reports that there was someone trapped inside.

"When we got in we found the lady. The fire wasn't serious but it caused a lot of smoke."

There was moderate smoke damage to the kitchen, cooker and lounge.