A DISCARDED cigarette was the cause of a house fire in which a Clitheroe mother-of-five died, fire chiefs revealed.

And the smoke alarm at Pauline Stannard's Lime Street home did not have a battery in it, investigation officers confirmed.

Now Peter Holland, the county's chief fire officer, is urging people to take extra care during the festive season.

He said: "Christmas is here again and sadly we always seem to have fire tragedies at this time of year.

"Just this week a woman died when a discarded cigarette started a fire in her home. There was a smoke alarm in her home, but it did not have a battery in it."

He added: "We must remember that at Christmas risks are higher. Our homes have more people in them, there is a lot of cooking going on and, of course, eating and drinking, and this makes the prospect of fire the last thought on our minds."

Mrs Stannard, 45, died at her home on Sunday. Two of her children, a 15-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, scrambled to safety through an upstairs window and were rescued by neighbours after they managed to get on to the porch roof.

Her son tried to get back into the house to rescue his mother, but was beaten back by the flames.

Fire crews later found Mrs Stannard's body in the living room and it was first believed the fire could have been caused by faulty Christmas tree lights.

The two youngsters were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering from shock and smoke inhalation, and were later transferred to Queen's Park Hospital. Mrs Stannard's eldest daughter Sharon Saunders, of Calder Avenue, Billington, said the family, which also includes a grown-up son and a teenage daughter, was rallying round the two youngest children, who have since been released from hospital, to help them through the tragedy.

Now Lancashire Fire Brigade has released a safety checklist for people to have a safe and happy Christmas.

These include: Fit a smoke alarm, check existing smoke alarms and their batteries, keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children, keep an eye on the chip pan, provide plenty of ashtrays if there are smokers in the house, and check the safety of electric blankets.

And homeowners are also being urged to check all heating appliances are off, empty ash trays and switch off electrical appliances before they go to bed.

Families should also have action plans of what to do in the event of a fire.

Mr Holland said: "I hope that by being more aware of fire and by following these simple rules the community of Lancashire will have a Christmas that will be safe from fire."