A FIRE caused by cigarette embers emptied into a bin, caused severe damage to carpet and furniture.

Firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze, in Waddington Avenue, Burnley, at 12.30am on Monday, where they found the bin was on fire and the carpet smouldering.

The male occupant of the house had tipped an ash tray into the bin before leaving the house, earlier in the evening.

He was alerted to the fire by neighbours who heard his smoke alarm going off and rang his mobile phone.

He then came home and rang the fire service.

A fire crew from Burnley attended and spent half an hour tackling the blaze, which also caused smoke damage to the room.

To have free smoke alarms fitted call 0800 169 1125.