A MAN lay screaming on the ground with a broken leg after leaping for his life from the bedroom of his blazing home early today.

Shane Hindle, 29, was injured as he jumped from a window at his rented house in Logwood Street, Bastwell, Blackburn, at 3.45am.

Firefighters believe the blaze, which destroyed the living room and casued severe smoke damage to the rest of the property, was started by a smouldering cigarette which had fallen down the back of a settee.

Neighbours were evacuated for a short time while firefighters fought the blaze.

Lilian Bibby, who lives a few doors down from Mr Hindle, was in bed when the fire started. She said: "I heard the window smash and looked out of my bedroom window. I could see the lad lying on the ground. He was screaming and shouting 'my leg, my leg'. "I thought he was drunk at first but then the ambulance, police and fire brigade arrived."

Mrs Bibby said there was a strong smell of smoke in her house. "I just couldn't get rid of the fumes. The smoke was tremendous," she said.

The owner of the fire-damaged house, who also lives in Logwood Street, was too shocked to comment when told about the fire.

An ambulance crew from Blackburn treated Mr Hindle at the scene before taking him to Blackburn Royal Infirmary. He was said to be "comfortable" today.

Station officer John Pinner, of Blackburn Fire Station, said the fire crew arrived to find flames coming out of the living room window. The house and the properties on either side were heavily smoke-logged.

Mr Pinner said: "The occupant had a very lucky escape. It was a very serious fire."

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