A woman burned her clothing after falling asleep with a lit cigarette in her hand.

The woman, who is disabled and in her 60s, of Brother Street, Mill Hill, had to be carried to safety by Blackburn firefighters, and suffered minor burns to her abdomen.

Blackburn watch manager Steve Harrison said the lady’s smoke alarm was connected to a centralised system as part of a care package.

It alerted her carer, who then rang the fire service at 11.45pm on Thursday.

Mr Harrison said: “The woman had fallen asleep and the cigarette had landed in her lap and set fire to her clothes, burning through to her abdomen.

“She was conscious but, because of her severe disability, needed carrying out.

"She was taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up, but her injuries are not serious.

“It could have been a lot worse, particularly at that time of night, or if she had not had the care package.

“Cigarettes are dangerous from every angle."

She was given oxygen at the scene before being taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.