A DISABLED man was rescued from a bungalow by his wife after the family washing machine caught fire.

Firefighters from Rawtenstall were called to the home in Chester Crescent, Haslingden, at 10.30am today.

Crew manager Dean Thompson said: "The man was bedbound but his wife got him out in wheelchair by the time we arrived.

"The washing machine which had caught fire was a write-off and the kitchen was badly-smoke damaged."

He added: "The house was fitted with smoke alarms and when she was alerted the lady did all the right things and closed the kitchen door and called 999. It could have been a lot worse otherwise."