FIRE Chiefs are warning of the dangers of smoking in bed after a man fell asleep in a hotel bedroom with a lit cigarette.

Fire crews were called to the Devonshire Hotel, Bridge Street, Blackburn, at 3.50 this morning where they found a mattress and bed frame well alight. The room was also badly smoke damaged.

The occupant fled after being woken by another resident of the hotel who raised the alarm when smoke detectors went off.

Leading firefighter John Hampson said: "This could have been far worse, it was just very lucky that another resident woke up and managed to rouse this man.

"The dangers of smoking in bed are obvious and people simply should not be doing it.

The consequences could be tragic."