A SMOKE alarm may have saved the life of a Blacko man, fire crews said today.

Ian Hunter went upstairs and apparently fell asleep after putting the chip pan on the cooker in the kitchen of a building at Hillside Farm, Beverley Road.

The next thing he knew was the sound of the smoke detector.

Mr Hunter tried to tackle the fire but was beaten back by thick smoke.

Firefighters gave him oxygen at the scene but he declined hospital treatment.

The chip pan burnt itself out and little fire damage was caused. Extensive smoke damage was caused to the kitchen and the rest of the house.

Leading Firefighter Tony Spencer said: "He put the chip pan on and forgot about it. He went upstairs and fell asleep.

"It was the smoke detector on the upstairs landing which woke him and gave him an early warning of the problem."

Mr Spencer added: "He came downstairs and tried to see what was happening but the smoke was too thick. He went to the neighbour's house and they rang for the fire service."

Mr Spencer said the incident highlighted the value of people having smoke alarms.

He added: "It could have been a different story if he had not got the early warning."