THREE people are lucky to be alive after a fleeing their blazing Preston home - thought to have been started by a young boy playing with matches.

Firemen say the house in Westfield Drive went up in smoke early on Tuesday morning after matches or a lighter had been carelessly left out for the four-year-old to find.

Flames were spotted by neighbours in one of the bedrooms. By the time two fire engines arrived, the occupants - a woman, her teenage son and grandson had escaped - but the woman was suffering from the affects of smoke. Paramedics were called in and the woman was treated at the scene.

Station officer Jeff Holden said: "We are talking with the occupants, but the likely causes are either the youngster playing with matches or the careless disposal of smoking materials."

And he issued a stern warning to parents who smoke: "Children are naturally curious about matches and lighters. As well as teaching children about the dangers of them, parents have a responsibility to ensure that these things are not left around."

Fire fighters had to use four breathing apparatus and two hose reels to combat the flames in the terraced house. The bedroom, where the fire started, was badly damaged and the whole first floor suffered smoke and heat damage.

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