AN elderly resident at a Blackburn nursing home set fire to his pyjamas with a cigarette lighter belonging to a member of staff.

An inquest heard that Stephen Holmes suffered burns to only 11 per cent of his body but they contributed to his death nearly two months later.

Mr Holmes, 77, lived at the Whitecliff Care Centre, East Park Road, Blackburn.

Matron Eilish Morris said he suffered from senile dementia and was not allowed to have cigarettes unsupervised.

Care assistant Lisa Smith told the inquest that she had been in the dining room with Mr Holmes, another care assistant and another resident.

Miss Smith had smoked a cigarette then emptied the ash tray into a special bin and put her lighter into the staff cupboard. Mr Holmes was present and she said there was no lock on the cupboard.

Shortly after, Miss Smith and the other assistant took the other resident to bed and as they were doing that the fire alarm sounded. Miss Smith ran back to find a nurse, Susan Cameron, pouring water on Mr Holmes to extinguish the flames.

Health and Safety Inspector Mark Lenderyou said a full investigation had been carried out and no prosecution was being brought.

He said Mr Holmes had been identified as a fire risk because he did not have a fully understand of the consequence of some of his actions.

"The risk of patients getting cigarettes or lighters from the staff cupboard had been overlooked," said Mr Lenderyou. "The question as to whether the nursing home should have seen this risk is a difficult one. Our view was they had done was reasonable and it was unfortunate.

"I was impressed with the standards at the home. The main risks were under control and it was a well maintained home," he added.

The medical cause of death was bronchopneumonia caused by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, dementia and burns and coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.