A worried neighbour in Regent Road, Chorley, dialled 999 after hearing a smoke alarm and spotting "steam" in the windows at 11.11pm on Saturday.

Firefighters arrived to find the man's terraced home filled with smoke.

Oven chips and curry had been left cooking as he fell asleep in the lounge.

He was led outside and checked by paramedics as firefighters used a ventilation fan to clear the smoke.

Chorley watch manager Pete Bamber said: "Had smoke alarms not been fitted within this house, the neighbour would not have been alerted to the deteriorating situation next door and the fire service would almost certainly have been dealing with a far more serious incident.

"Two points raised by this incident are not to leave cooking unattended at any time and to make sure you have a working smoke alarm within your property.

"Fire service personnel will visit any property in the Lancashire area in order to give fire safety advice and fit free smoke detectors where required."

To take advantage of the service, contact a fire station or freephone 0800 1691125.

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