Pensioner's lucky escape after blaze

AN elderly woman was lucky to escape injury today after fire broke out in her garage and spread to electricity cables.

Only the frame of the pensioner's garage remained after the blaze which caused the roof and walls to collapse.

Everything inside also perished, including garden furniture and a washing machine.

The blaze took hold at around 3am near homes in Elm Lane, Capel St Mary and also set light to a neighbouring garage.

The pensioner was in too much shock to speak today, but her daughter said: “A neighbour saw the flames and phoned the fire brigade then one of them went to my mother's house to get her. I came over this morning when I heard what happened.

“She has lived here for about 18 years. When you live somewhere for such a long time you lose track of all the things you keep in the garage, but everything has gone.”

An electricity cable on the side of the house also caught alight but fortunately the blaze was brought under control by firefighters before it spread.

The woman's electricity was still off this morning as a precaution. There was also some smoke damage inside the house.

The daughter added: “She is a very lucky lady. The fire service were absolutely brilliant and I know my mother would like to thank them.”

Firefighters said they had to demolish a wall of one of the garages, which had been weakened by the inferno, as a safety precaution. It is not known what caused the fire.