A HOUSE was left smoke damaged by fire believed to have been started by a cigarette.

Firefighters were called to the mid terrace property in Nancy Street, Darwen, just before midnight on Sunday.

The male occupant was downstairs and smelled smoke coming from the upstairs bedroom.

A crew spent 30 minutes at the scene putting out the fire which left an area of wooden floorboards in the bedroom severely damaged, and the whole property smokelogged.

A spokesman said: "Police are continuing to investigate the incident but we believe the fire was caused by carelessly disposed smoking materials."