A COUPLE were rescued by firefighters after a blaze trapped them in their bedroom.

Julie Marchant, 43, said the incident had left her “terrified”. She described how she was faced with a “wall of smoke”.

Julie and her partner Justin Riley, 22, along with Benji the dog, had to be rescued by firefighters after the incident which started in a back bedroom of the property in Emma Street, Accrington.

The house, which is rented, has been left badly damaged following the incident in the early hours of yesterday (mon).

The cause is still under investigation but arson has been ruled out.

Julie, who has lived in the home for four years, said: “I had just gone to sleep and I could smell something. I opened the door and was overcome with smoke.

“I have had some fire safety training in the past so I knew that I had to stay safe and get back in the bedroom.”

She fled back to the front room where she called 999. She then packed the door with sheets with her partner to stop any smoke entering the room and waited for help to arrive.

She added: “It is very upsetting seeing the damage but I know that we have been lucky that the fire was not any worse.

“I have no idea how it started. I don’t smoke and the iron was not left on so it is difficult to understand what happened.”

The room where the fire began ruined a bed and clothes as well as causing damage to the walls.

The rest of the home was left smoke damaged.

Watch manager Keith Cunliffe said the fire was under investigation but was not being treated as suspicious.

Firefighters put out the flames before leading the couple to safety, he said.