THREE people have been taken to hospital after a fire at a home in Rossendale.

Crews from Bacup and Rawtenstall attended the blaze in Union Street, Stacksteads, which is believed to have started accidentally after candles set light to a bed.

One man was trapped inside the house before being led to safety by firefighters who were called at around 8.05pm.

Chris Howarth, watch manager at Bacup fire station, said: "On arrival crews found two occupants out of the house with a male adult still in the house who needed leading to safety by firefighters.

"Crews using breathing apparatus and a hose reel extinguished a small fire in the attic bedroom.

"A ventilation unit was used to remove smoke from the property. All three occupants received oxygen therapy at the scene from fire crews and they were all taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

"The fire started accidentally with candles at the side of the bed.

"The fire service would urge people to take extra care when using candles, always place them in a purpose built, none combustible holder and always extinguish candles when leaving a room for any extended periods."

Lancashire police were made aware of the incident but did not attend as it is not being treated as suspicious.

The North West Ambulance Service confirmed that it sent two ambulances to the scene and the casualties were taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital as a precaution.

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Two fire engines and crews from Bacup and one from Rawtenstall responded to a call to a fire in the attic, second-floor, bedroom of a terraced house in which it was feared people were trapped.

"On arrival of firefighters, two casualties were already out of the property and it was confirmed that a man was still inside.

"Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus rescued the man and extinguished the fire using a hosereel jet, using a thermal imaging camera to confirm that there had been no spread of fire into the roof.

"The casualties were given oxygen therapy by firefighters until paramedics arrived at the scene."