A SMOKE alarm alerted neighbours to a chip pan fire at a flat in Blackburn last night.

Residents in Spring Bank Terrace, Mill Hill, called out the emergency services after the alert just before 7pm. Smoke was also seen billowing out of a window.

Firefighters were sent into the flat, wearing breathing apparatus, and managed to extinguish the blaze.

The crews then had to fully ventilate the property due to heavy smoke logging.

Chris West, acting watch manager at Blackburn, said: "No-one was in the property, no-one was hurt and no damage was caused due to the quick response of the neighbours in calling for the fire service.

"The cause of this fire was due to a pan being switched on and then being left unattended whilst the occupant of the property went out."

But he said that if there had not been a working smoke alarm than it could have been a far more serious incident.