PENSIONER Sidney Waller is recovering in hospital after being rescued from a fire which was started deliberately.

Mr Waller, 74, who is hard of hearing, was unaware of the smoke alarms going off when the fire broke out in a block of bedsits or flats at a house in Colne Road, Burnley.

He was led to safety from his second-floor room in a joint police and fire service rescue.

He was given oxygen at the scene and then taken to Burnley General Hospital, where his condition was described as stable.

The fire was started in a bedroom on the floor below Mr Waller's room with smoke spreading to the rest of the building.

The incident happened at about 7.30pm on Saturday.

Police Insp Steve Cope said two officers on patrol in connection with the recent disturbances in Burnley were told by a member of the public that smoke was coming from a first-floor window.

They went in and, despite the thick smoke, were able to locate and rouse Mr Waller. With the help of firefighters they lead him out to safety.

Both officers who had also breathed in the smoke were also given oxygen but were able to continue their duties.

He added: "We are treating the cause as suspicious and an investigation has started. It is not thought to be in any way associated with the recent disturbances in Burnley."

Leading Firefighter Jeremy Richmond said someone had deliberately set fire to a blankets on a bed in the first-floor room.

The fire had spread causing damage to the bed and bedding and to. Smoke spread throughout the first and second floors.

Mr Richmond said: "We were made aware there was someone still in there. Mr Waller appeared to have been having a lie down and, because he is deaf or hard of hearing, he was not aware of the fire alarm.

"As he was being helped out he was most concerned about his pension book which we found and handed to him."