A FAMILY, including two toddlers, managed to escape their burning Burnley home after clothes drying in front of a fire caught light.

Fire bosses have warned of the dangers of leaving clothes in front of fires, following the incident, which happened in Thorn Street.

Crews were called to the house after the fire started in the living room at 12.45pm on Saturday. By the time they had arrived the family, including a one-year-old and three-year-old child had escaped.

Firefighters spent about 30 minutes at the scene. Nobody was injured.

Watch manager Alan Ashworth said the family had managed to escape quickly because the house was fitted with a smoke detector.

He said: "Leaving clothes to dry is dangerous especially if it is in front of an open fire.

"The clothes do not have to touch the fire, it can be radiated heat which can ignite them."

To request a free home safety fire check and smoke alarm call 0800 169 1125.