An elderly woman was lucky to escape with her life after dropping a cigarette in bed and then trying to put the blaze out herself.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) said the incident, in Percy Road, Broadstairs, has highlighted how vulnerable the elderly are to fire in their homes.

Firefighters were called to the house shortly before 8am Monday after a neighbour who entered the house to fix a leak noticed there had been a recent blaze.

Matt Deadman, Thanet’s Red Watch manager, said: "According to the occupant, she had been smoking in bed. She dropped her cigarette, setting light to the mattress.

"A fire then developed in the mattress and bed and she dragged the mattress into the bathroom, placed it in the bath and started running the water in an effort to put out the fire. From the smoke damage to the bathroom door, it is likely she then shut the door.

"The heat in the bathroom was such that it pulled the tiles off the wall, cracked the porcelain sink and toilet cistern and caused the bathroom window to fail, melting the plastic window frame and shattering the glass."

The fire actually began at 11pm on Sunday, but after moving the mattress the 79-year-old fell asleep.

When crews arrived, there were still glowing embers in the floorboards and behind the skirting. KFRS said it could have easily engulfed the whole house.

Mr Deadman added: "I'm amazed the lady survived this incident. She said she didn’t want to create a fuss and thought the time taken for firefighters to respond would have meant her house would have burnt down.

"As it was, it took us four minutes from receiving the call to getting there."

The pensioner was taken to Margate's QEQM Hospital suffering smoke inhalation, where she remains.

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