A DECISION to make a late-night cup of tea may have saved a Burnley woman's life - and it has led to fire chiefs sending out an urgent warning for electric blankets and smoke detectors to be regularly checked.

Mary Ann Sutcliffe was in bed at her bungalow in Standen Hall Drive when, at 11.20pm last night, she decided to get up to make a brew.

It was only then that she smelled smoke coming from another bedroom.

A fire had been caused by a faulty electric blanket put on to air a bed in the spare room.

Damage was confined to the mattress but smoke damage was caused to much of the property.

Station officer Steve Cope said: "When we arrived, the lady was safely at the doorway waiting for us. The house was by then full of horrible nasty smoke.

"It is fortunate she got up to make the brew or we could have been dealing with something more serious."

A smoke detector was installed in the house but had not given an alarm because the battery was not fitting correctly.

Mr Cope added: "Now that the cold nights are here it is vital that electric blankets are serviced regularly and that smoke detectors are checked at least weekly to make sure they are working."

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