-A FIRE which severely damaged the kitchen of a house in Blackburn is thought to have started in a toaster.

Firefighters were called to the blaze, in a semi-detached house in Tower Road, Blackburn, at 10.30am yesterday.

The female occupant of the house was alerted to the fire by a neighbour and escaped unhurt.

Leading firefighter John Hampson of Blackburn Fire and Rescue Service said the kitchen was gutted by the fire, which had spread through the floor above, causing slight damage. The rest of the house suffered smoke and heat damage and the flames also spread to a garage. He said it was thought the fire started in a toaster.

He added: "It was just one of those freak accidents where the toast got stuck and carried on toasting, rather than an error by the householder."

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