A LAST minute change of heart saved a family's Christmas presents from going up in flames when a fire gutted their living room.

Jan Johnson and her 13-year-old son Ben escaped unhurt as thick smoke from the blaze swept through their home in Talbot Street, Colne, just after 5am today.

Jan had planned to bring the family's presents downstairs to the living room last night but decided not to bother.

"It's a good thing I was too lazy to do it otherwise we would have lost them all," she said.

"The Christmas tree and all our cards have gone but at least we still have the presents."

Jan was woken by a loud noise and thought the house was being broken into.

"When I looked downstairs I could see the smoke so I got Ben," she said.

"All I was bothered about was getting out of the house but he decided to be the hero and got a jug of water to try and put the fire out."

Unfortunately, in opening the living room door Ben inadvertently allowed clouds of smoke to escape into the rest of the house but by that time his mum had got the front door open and they got outside safely.

Sub officer Tony Crook, of Nelson fire station, said: "Our advice is leave doors shut and not try to tackle any fire. The best thing to do is get everyone out and contact the fire brigade."

The blaze gutted the living room and caused extensive smoke damage to the rest of the house.

Jan's 12-year-old daughter Erica was sleeping at a friend's house and missed the drama.

"I'm going to enjoy Christmas as much as I can and try not to think about all this," said Jan.

The fire brigade said an electrical fault in a television started the blaze.

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