SIXTY smoke detectors have been handed out by firefighters in Padiham as part of a major fire safety campaign.

The initiative comes on the second anniversary a house blaze in Victoria Road in which a young woman lost her life.

An inquest later heard the fire was probably started by a carelessly discarded cigarette.

Padiham fire crews are visiting homes in the Victoria Road area, talking to residents and carrying out fire safety checks.

And at homes considered "at risk" they will offer to fit alarms free of charge.

Leading Firefighter Jim Edwards, newly appointed community liaison officer at Padiham fire station said: "It is going quite well and we have handed out about sixty smoke detectors so far."

He said a fire in Russell Terrace, Padiham, last Friday again proved their effectiveness when the smoke alarm went off giving the occupier an early warning of a chip pan fire and limited the damage caused.

Firefighters now intend to "blitz" areas where fires occur with fire safety checks with local residents.