A TODDLER was thrown into the arms of a neighbour as six people escaped a house blaze through first floor bedroom windows early today.

And the neighbour hailed as a life-saver revealed how she rushed to help after being woken by smoke at the semi-detached house in Rossendale Close, Bacup.

Neighbours said Jimmy and Jeanette English, who only got married last month, were lucky to survive the fierce blaze, at 5am. They were saved along with children Gabby Young,11, Shannon Young, nine, after jumping onto a mattress from a bedroom window.

David English, three, was earlier thrown into the arms of next-door neighbour Gail Ellis as the family feared they would not escape.

A family friend was also helped from the back bedroom by another neighbour with a ladder.

Gail, 36, who lives with husband Andrew, has asthma and was woken when smoke from next door made her start to choke.

She heard the family's desperate screams for help and rushed to their aid.

She said: "Jimmy said if I had not heard them they would never have got out. The house exploded once they had got out. I didn't have time to think, I just did it.

"Luckily we managed to get the mattress and save them. When they threw David out I did not have the mattress.There was just concrete underneath me but I managed to catch him."

Gail's cousin Kay Carter said: "She saved their lives. God, if she wasn't there they wouldn't have got out."

Fire crews said the family, who suffered minor injuries and smoke inhalation, were lucky to be alive.

They were called to the house at shortly after 5am when a smoke alarm in the house next to the burning building went off.

More than 20 firefighters tackled the blaze, which started downstairs. The exact cause was being investigated today.

Sub officer Ian Johnston, of Rossendale fire and rescue service, said: "The house was not fitted with a smoke detector and we were alerted to the fire by a neighbour who did have an alarm.

"This family were very lucky to escape with their lives. When we arrived the house was well alight and smoke logged and if it hadn't been for the neighbours things could have been much serious."

An ambulance spokesman said: "Six people were taken to casualty. They all suffered minor injuries and smoke inhalation."

Smoke alarms can be fitted free of charge by calling 0800 169 1125.