A relieved son has thanked neighbours who rescued his parents from a terrifying blaze in their terraced house.

Bed-bound pensioner Raymond Roundell, 68, was unable to escape when the fire started. Flames rose up the inside of the downstairs bedroom and fuel canisters exploded in the room.

It was only when neighbours Angie and Donald Bailey raced to help the couple that Raymond and his wife Norma, 67, were dragged to safety.

The couple’s son Mark said Raymond, who has problems with his mobility, now needs to be carried upstairs to bed while the downstairs bedroom is repaired.

He added: “This is the second time this has happened in a few months. He had a few butane containers to fill cigarette lighters and they exploded.

“He also had some cans of Guinness by his bed and one of those exploded too.

“I’m glad that the neighbours were close by. It could have been much worse.”

Retired secretary Norma, of Trinity Street, Oswaldtwistle, thanked her neighbours for their heroic actions last Sunday night.

She said: “When you hear a smoke alarm go off, it’s terrifying. I was in the house and I heard the smoke alarm and our border collie Meg just went berserk.

“I called the fire brigade but by then neighbours were banging on the door.

“They were magnificent. They carried me out of the house and saved Ray.”

Norma said Raymond, who is well known around Hyndburn as a retired decorator, is now recovering from smoke inhalation at home. Firefighters said that the first blaze was started by Mr?Roundell smoking in bed.

Norma said: “Ray is in bed at the moment and he can only have a cigarette when someone is with him. It’s a warning to everybody not to smoke in bed because the consequences could be fatal. We both feel horrible now. It’s very upsetting.”

Walls were blackened and furniture, curtains, bedding and carpeting was destroyed during the incident which happened just before 9pm on Sunday.

John Taylor, of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said there were 15 firefighters who tackled the flames at the mid-terraced property.

He said accidentally discarded cigarettes or lighters are among the most common causes of fires in the home. He added: “Our primary message is don’t risk the consequences of smoking in bed.

“A working smoke alarm gives an early warning, but chances are that if you have the misfortune to set the bedding or

yourself alight when smoking in bed you’ve reduced your chances of getting out uninjured significantly.”