JENNY the Jack Russell was hailed a life saver by her owners today after she saved them from their blazing home.

Bill Ryder, 59, his wife Velma, 57, and their son Phillip, 34, were asleep at their home in Carleton Street, Nelson, when the four-year-old dog woke them up as smoke crept upstairs from the kitchen.

The blaze started at about midnight last night after Mrs Ryder had emptied an ashtray into a dustbin before she went to bed. Luckily the flames burst a water pipe on the washing machine which helped to contain the fire.

But the family were still in danger of being overcome by smoke.

The family spent the night in Burnley General Hospital and were treated for smoke inhalation and shock.

Phillip, who suffers from asthma, said: "Jenny woke us up squealing, another two or three minutes and we would have been trapped by the smoke."

Bill said it was a terrifying experience. "I couldn't see anything going down the stairs. I was so shocked. I didn't have time to think, it was just complete panic.""

Sub officer Shaun Naughton said: "They were lucky in a lot of ways. They were fortunate the water pipe burst or things could have been a lot worse. A smoke alarm would have helped."