A MAN who fell asleep with a cigarette in his hand today escaped a fire with only minor burns to his hands and arms.

Firefighters said a smoke alarm alerted him to the danger at his Lindsay Street home, in Burnley, at 7.30am.

He was treated at the scene by firefighters before he was taken to Burnley General Hospital.

Sub officer Peter Kelly said: "The man had been smoking in bed when he fell asleep. His bed caught fire and with the heat of the fire and the alarm sounded it woke him up."