A PENSIONER was rescued from his ninth floor flat after he fell and broke his leg while a pan boiled dry on the hob.

Brian Clarke, 69, of Trinity Court, Birley Street, Blackburn managed to crawl to the phone to call his daughter, who contacted the fire brigade.

David Williams, watch manager at Blackburn fire station, said Mr Clarke had fallen over after being startled by a plate that cracked after being left on the hob. He said the pensioner had then been worried that a pan that had boiled dry might start a fire.

"His son turned up with the keys, but he only had the key for the mortis lock and not the yale lock, so we had to break down the door," said Mr Williams.

"He must have been in a heck of a lot of pain, it was the bone in the top of his leg that was broken."

Emergency services said Mr Clarke was taken to hospital.