A WOMAN was rescued by firefighters after fire trapped her in the living room of her home in Elliott Avenue, Darwen.

It is believed the fire started at 3.45pm on Friday after a newspaper left next to her gas fire set alight.

A Darwen fire service spokesman said: "She tried to pick up the paper, but burnt her hands and dropped it on a chair, which also set on fire.

She couldn't to find the keys to unlock her front door, and the fire blocked her way to the back door."

The woman was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering from smoke inhalation and burns to her hands.