A couple and their family have had a lucky escape after they fell asleep and left a burning cigarette to set fire to their bed.

The couple, aged 28 and 30 and living on King Avenue in Rossington, luckily awoke before the flames spread.  Fire crews from Doncaster were called to the scene at 5:35am.  They used a hose reel to fully extinguish the fire.

The couple's two young children, aged 4 and 5, were asleep in the house at the time, but were not injured.  Firefighters say that all members of the family are extremely lucky not to have been overcome by fumes or injured in the blaze, especially as there were no smoke alarms to alert them to the danger.

Residents across South Yorkshire are urged not to smoke in bed, to check all cigarettes are put out fully and most importantly to ensure they have a working smoke alarm that is tested on a weekly basis.  To arrange your free home fire safety check, which includes installation of smoke alarms where needed, please call 0114 253 2314.