A CAT rescued from a house fire in Accrington was brought back to life by quick-thinking firefighters.

The animal had stopped breathing when members of Lancashire Fire and Rescue carried it from the house, in Belfield Road, at around 9.30pm yesterday but they managed to bring it back to life on the pavement outside. They also rescued a puppy which had been stuck in the smokelogged house.

Both the fire service and police are treating the fire as suspicious after discovering three different areas of fire in the downstairs living room.

Sub officer Gary Hibbitson said: "Once we found out that no-one was in there we concentrated on the cat. Two or three firefighters put their skills to the test and helped out in resuscitating the animal. It had a little tube in its mouth and they massaged it back to life."

The owner and her daughter arrived back at the house shortly after the incident.

Inquiries in to the fire are continuing.