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.

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.