A FAMILY was praised for "doing the right thing" when fire broke out last night.

Linda Heyes and her seven-year-old twin daughters, Jessica and Lauren, got out of their home and called the fire brigade.

A fire spokesman said: "They didn't try to tackle the fire they just got out and called us out."

Mrs Heyes and her younger daughters were sitting in the lounge at Dickinson Close, Halliwell,ready to watch television when the smoke alarm went off.

A candle, which had been lit earlier in the evening by Mrs Heyes' eldest daughter, 12-year-old Joanne, had burnt down and ignited a cabinet in the main bedroom.

Mrs Heyes explained: "She had decided to light the candle because she thought it would look pretty, but forgot all about it.

"She went out to the youth club at the local church and came back to find out what had happened. She was very upset."

As soon as Mrs Heyes heard the alarm she got her family and their pet dog, Judy, out of the house and called for the emergency services.

Fire damage was confined to the bedside cabinet and there was smoke damage to the first floor.

Mrs Heyes said if it hadn't been for her smoke alarm things could have been "much worse".

She said: "I think everyone should have a smoke alarm. I dread to think what could have happened if we didn't have one."

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