POLICE are probing a kitchen blaze at sheltered accommodation in which a pensioner was killed.

Margaret Kenyon, 78, died at 9.50am yesterday as her terrace bungalow in Showley Residential Court, Knowsley Road, Clayton-le-Dale, filled with smoke after a saucepan fire. She was found by neighbours.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and were trying to contact relatives.

Fire service divisional officer, Mike Painter, said: "The cause of the fire is under investigation as it is unknown whether the woman died as a cause of the fire or afterwards."

Inspector Stuart Bruce said: "The post mortem examination seems to indicate the smoke has had a part in the death."

Police and firefighters were at the property today checking fire alarms.

A Blackburn family has cheated death after a blaze ripped through their home as they slept.

Fire crews today said a mother-of-three in Merchants Landing, Audley, was lucky to be alive.

It happened at 12.30am when the 23-year-old woman fell asleep in her three-bedroomed home while smoking.

Leading firefighter David Hilliard said: "We don't understand how they have managed to live through this, they really lucky. The woman must have been woken as flames actually touched her."

A bedroom was destroyed and the property was severely damaged.