A sleeping pensioner was rescued by firefighters today after a fire at her flat in Telford. Smoke was pouring from the windows as officers arrived.

Firefighters searching the first floor flat in Leonard Close, Donnington, found the woman in her 70s fast asleep in bed.

It is believed the blaze was started by a burning cigarette.

The woman’s home was seriously damaged by smoke, which was pouring from the windows when crews arrived just before 7am.

Officers had to walk the “surprised” woman from the flat and she was treated at the scene by crews for smoke inhalation after a neighbour heard a fire alarm and called the fire brigade.

Steve Godfrey, watch manager at Wellington Fire Station, said crews entered the flat and found smoke had filled the front room where the fire started and there was a small fire on the coffee table in the lounge.

They put the fire out and searched the building.

He said: “On entering the bedroom crews found the lady asleep in bed. She was very surprised. They just walked her out.

“A cigarette is believed to have caused the fire when it possibly fell out of an ashtray onto a packet of cigarettes and a candle.”

Tony Druce, watch manager at Telford Central station, said smoke had spread throughout the flat but not into the bedroom where the door was closed, which he said was “lucky”.

He said: “She had a fire alarm which alerted the neighbours and they called us.

“She was treated by us at the scene for smoke inhalation and is now residing with a neighbour,” he added.

Mr Godfrey said the fire appliances had been unable to get to the front of the flats because of access problems with parked cars.