LANCASHIRE Fire and Rescue have sent a safety message out to homeowners about the dangers of using polystyrene ceiling tiles following a house fire in Burnley.

Firefighters were called to a house in Merton Street on Saturday after it is believed a microwave had set on fire.

The fire caused severe damage to 20 per cent of the living room.

Fire crew said the fact there were polystyrene ceiling tiles in the living room added to the problem causing severe smoke damage to the rest of the house.

The ceiling tiles easily caught fire and helped the fire spread more quickly.

Thick black smoke had already begun spreading through the house when the fire service arrived.

Sub officer Alan Ashworth, of Burnley Fire and Rescue, said: "We just want people to be aware of the dangers of polystyrene tiles especially when they have been painted as these were.

"These tiles can be extremely dangerous because of the fumes they give off, but being painted as well it makes the fire situation worse because the flames spread quickly from one side of the room to the other.

"They give off thick acrid smoke which is why there was so much smoke damage to the house. There was a single man in the house at the time but he managed to get out before the smoke spread and was not injured."