A FIRE at the home of a pregnant woman is being investigated.

The West African refugee, who is six months pregnant, has been forced to leave her home in Sydney Street, Stockton, following the incident on Sunday night.

She was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees suffering from shock and smoke inhalation.

The 26-year-old, who has not been named, was alerted to the blaze when her smoke alarm went off after burning paper was put through an open kitchen window.

She said: "I couldn't breathe, so I went to call a neighbour who called the fire brigade. I was really scared."

She fled her native West Africa a year ago following the death of her parents and is now waiting to hear if she can stay in this country.