A FIRE started after residents left a candle alight in their bathroom.

Firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze in Pansy Street, Harper Green at 9.30pm last night.

The occupiers of the house were downstairs but had left a candle alight in an upstairs bathroom.

The candle was placed under some plastic shelves which had caught fire.

After being alerted to the danger by a smoke alarm, the residents were able to put the fire out themselves before calling the fire service who made the area safe.

Neil Unsworth, watch manager at Farnworth fire station, said: “This situation could have been a lot worse if the people in the house hadn’t had a smoke alarm fitted.

“I would also stress the importance of not lighting candles in bathrooms, particularly where there are plastic goods.”