POLICE today confirmed they are waiting to interview the mother of a 14-month-old "home alone" baby rescued from a house fire.

The woman will be questioned by officers from Lancashire Constabulary's family protection team when the child leaves Burnley General Hospital.

The tot, who was asleep in a cot in a first-floor bedroom of the house in Burnley, has been transferred from the intensive care unit to a ward and is said to be making a good recovery.

She will be taken into the care of Lancashire County Council's social services department when she is allowed to leave hospital, police said today.

The baby, who police said lives with her mother, was the only person in the house when firefighters were called to tackle a blaze at 12.30am on Saturday.

They rescued the child from the cot and revived her on the pavement outside. She was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Detectives in Burnley are also investigating the cause of the blaze, which is being treated as suspicious. It is believed the fire started near the bottom of the staircase.

DS Steven Mounsey, of Burnley police, said officers from social services would seek a Child Protection Order through the courts to take the baby girl into care while police carried out their investigations.

He said: "The investigation has now been split. We are dealing with the arson side and the family protection unit will be speaking to the baby's parent when she leaves hospital.

"We still don't know how the fire was started but we are keen to speak to any witnesses who have not yet come forward to help with our investigations."

Anybody with information about the fire is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 472280.