Narrow escape for bed-blaze child

A CHILD had a lucky escape after a candle set fire to her bedroom.

The nine-year-old girl lit a tealight before going to bed in Goddard Street, Hathershaw.

But after falling asleep she turned over in the night, pushing her duvet on to the flame, which ignited the bedding, carpet and furniture.

A smoke alarm alerted the child and she was able to flee the bedroom while fire-fighters were called at 2am today. They used buckets of water to extinguish the flames.

Hollins fire station watch commander Andy Turner said: “It shows the importance of having a working smoke alarm and the safe use of candles, which shouldn’t be left unattended or with children.”

The fire damaged the room and caused smoke damage to upstairs but no one was injured.