A YOUNG mum and her baby fled from their burning flat early today.

Lisa Yates woke up at 2.30am to find her bedroom well alight and full of smoke.

She grabbed her baby girl and ran from the first-floor flat in Cross Barn Grove, Darwen, and shut the door before calling the fire brigade.

It is believed the blaze was started by a burning candle which set fire to some papers on top of a chest of drawers.

Sub-officer Mark Wissett, at Darwen Fire Station, said: "This woman is extremely lucky that she woke up when she did, but after that she did everything right in getting out and shutting the doors and calling us out.

"There was a smoke alarm in the flat, but the actual unit had been removed and it was not working.

"Householders must be aware of the dangers of using candles. They are very fashionable at the moment, but if people are going to use them they should make sure they are in a proper holder, not just stuck on a saucer or balanced on a surface.

"Also they should make sure they are not near anything that could be ignited and should extinguish them before they fall asleep."

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