A PENSIONER who accidentally setting himself alight at home has died in hospital.

Firefighters believe that the 95-year-old had dropped a match and the flames ignited his clothing. He was sitting in an armchair at his home in Hodder Street, Accrington, when the incident happened.

Hyndburn Fire Station crew manager Phil Jones said that firefighters arrived at the scene at 8.40pm on Monday.

Paramedics had already started to treat the man who suffered 40 per cent burns to his back, neck and arm.

Mr Jones said: "The man's wife heard the smoke alarm and went in to the living room to see her husband engulfed in flames. When we arrived the ambulance service were already in attendance so the crew assisted with first aid and providing burn gels.

"The man was conscious but because the fire would have burnt his nerve-endings, he wouldn't have felt much pain at that stage. Thankfully, the smoke alarm alerted his wife before the flames had chance to spread."

The victim was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Tuesday morning, but he died from his injuries later in the day.

Free smoke alarms and home safety checks are available by contacting 0800 169 1125.