A HOUSE fire in Rossendale left a woman seriously injured after she fell from a first floor window trying to escape the blaze.

Police were called to the fire in Venture Street, Bacup, at shortly after 3am today where they found the ground floor of the terrace house well alight.

Two officers tried to force their way into the house but were beaten back by the ferocity of the heat and flames.

A woman fell from a first-floor window trying to escape from the house and was taken to hospital suffering serious injuries from the fall and the fire.

There was not believed to be a smoke alarm fitted in the house.

Station Commander from Bacup John Lord said: "The house was badly damaged in the blaze and the woman was in quite a poorly condition. We will be returning to the scene of the fire today to investigate the cause.

"We do not think there was a smoke alarm in the house and that would have given the lady a much earlier warning about the blaze.

"It is so important that people have smoke alarms fitted in their property and we would urge everyone who doesn't have one to get in touch with the fire service who can provide one free of charge."

The woman, who has not been named but is in her mid 50s, was today recovering in Rochdale Infirmary.