A DRUNKEN woman who set her curtains alight told police she was going to burn down her home with herself in it.

Burnley Crown Court heard Pauline Nield, 54, refused to leave the property.

A police officer who had to break down her door had to drag her from the house.

Nield, who has a drink problem and is said to need psychological help, was bailed until June 28 to see if the treatment recommended by medics, but which her solicitor said did not exist in East Lancashire, could be looked into.

Judge David Pirie urged the defendant to seek the help of her general practitioner but warned her that when she returned to court all options would be open.

Nield, of Pennine Road, Bacup, had earlier admitted arson.

David Tempkin, prosecuting, told the court police received a 999 call from the defendant last December.

She told them she was going to set fire to her house because she was fed up.

An officer went to Pennine Road and saw a blaze in the living room where the curtains were alight. He had to break down the door. The defendant was in the living room and was drinking.

She refused to leave and had to be dragged out.

Mr Tempkin said Nield told the police officer she did it and was going to burn down the house with her in it.

The officer thought Nield was drunk and she was arrested.

When she was interviewed, the defendant said she did not remember saying to the officer that she did it or was going to burn down the house.

She claimed she had had a row with her ex-partner and some paper had caught fire when she lit a cigarette.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Nield needed cognitive therapy and the treatment was not available in East Lancashire.

Her GP would be prepared to refer her to the community mental health team but he could not say that she would get treatment from them as they were totally independent.

Mr Taylor added the offence had made the defendant sit up and realise where her life was going. She had sought help herself through the Alcohol Advisory Service.