A VILIGANT neighbour saved a man from his burning Blackpool home by banging on windows to wake him up and then leading him to safety.

Susan Mezyan, 30, alerted fire services after smelling smoke from her neighbour's home at Smithy Mews, North Shore, on Monday (Nov 12) just after 12.30am.

Two fire engines from Blackpool rushed to the scene and were met with dense smoke issuing from the front door. Four firefighters in breathing apparatus dealt with the blaze using a hosereel jet.

An unattended chip pan sparked the blaze while Alan Marshell, 31, was asleep in the living room until woken by Mrs Mezyan. He later declined hospital treatment.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue said that thanks to the efforts of the neighbour a more serious outcome was averted.

"Chip pan fires are the largest single cause of injuries in house fires," he said. "These premises did not have a smoke alarm which would have given early warning of fire."