CARELESS disposal of smoking materials has been blamed by fire chiefs for a blaze which damaged a house under renovation in Leyland Road, Burnley.

Fire crews were called by neighbours who saw smoke coming from the kitchen area.

Station Officer Brian Rees said: "On arrival we found it was a well-secured property but could see through the windows that the washing machine was on fire.

"We broke in, searched the house and put the fire out without too much difficulty."

He added: "On investigation we found smoking materials had set fire to cotton cloth near the washing machine which had set fire to the plastic part of the machine.

"The house is under renovation and people had been in the property during the day."

The washing machine and a microwave oven were destroyed with smoke damage being caused throughout the property.

Fire crews were at the scene for one and a quarter hours.