A TERRIFIED seven-year-old girl was burned after her nightdress burst into flames as she warmed herself in front of a gas fire early today.

She was at her home in Queens Road West, Accrington, when the accident happened at 9.15am. Witnesses said a girl called Lacy Hey, aged seven, lives at the house with her family.

Her 12-year-old sister immediately rolled her on the floor and took off the burned clothes. She was taken to Blackburn Infirmary with burns to her legs

Sub Officer Duncan Emmett, of Accrington Fire Station, said: "It seemed the girl was warming her back in front of the fire when the flames caught hold of her long cotton nightdress.

"Luckily the girl's elder sister acted very promptly.

"It was also fortunate that the nightdress was cotton rather than man made, because the material would have melted on her skin.

"There was a folding fire guard but it wasn't being used at the time."

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