A DRUNKEN woman was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and burns after she was rescued from her blazing flat.

The woman, believed to be in her 40s, escaped from the second-floor flat after a neighbour was alerted by a smoke alarm. Firefighters believe the blaze was a caused by a cigarette.

Two engines from Thornaby fire station were needed to bring the flames under control at the flat, in Sheepfoote Hill, Yarm, east Cleveland, at 2.15pm yesterday.

Thornaby fire station watch manager Alan Powles said the woman was lucky to be alive, such was the ferocity of the blaze and her condition.

He said: "It was an intensive fire. The lady was quite lucky to get out alive. The blaze was so intense it destroyed the bedroom door of her flat.

"We are putting the cause of the fire, which started in the bedroom, down to a carelessly discarded cigarette.

"If she was not in the bedroom, she would have been forced to come past the door to get out of the flat.

"When we arrived, she was already outside after a neighbour heard the smoke alarm and alerted her. She was quite incoherent and by the smell of her you could tell she was clearly intoxicated. If it was not for the neighbour she might not have been so lucky."

There was severe fire damage to the bedroom and the three other rooms were damaged by heat and smoke.

The woman was taken to North Tees University Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation and minor burns to her legs.