THE family of a fluffy pet rabbit have described how they rescued the animal in the nick of time as the hutch was engulfed in flames.

Jeanette Fortune, of Pickard Close, Barnoldswick, said she discovered the fire as she let the family dog out into the garden.

The rabbit called Sophie had been asleep in the hutch at the back of the house when the fire caught hold of the hutch.

The animal escaped shaken and with her fur singed.

Jeanette said: "The first thing I did was run out into the garden in my dressing gown and stick my hand in the hutch.

"I thought the rabbit must have been dead because of the amount of flames and the heat that was surrounding.

"I didn't think about getting burnt myself I just wanted to get Sophie out.

"She was very singed and shaken up by the experience as I suppose anybody would be, but one thing is for sure we won't be putting her back in that hutch she will live in the house with us.

"We feel lucky to still have her with us, but we are terrified of the same thing happening again it really shook us up."

The fire brigade were called to the house to tackle the fire which had spread to the timber shed in the garden.

Station officer Roy Bowker said they were investigating the cause of the fire.