Firefighters had to break into a Keighley flat to rescue four people who slept through a fire alarm after a blaze broke out.

Carol Spencer and her three children were eventually woken by firemen early on Monday and led to safety through the choking smoke.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus forced open the front door of the flat at Delph House, Parkwood Rise, to reach the family.

Keighley sub officer Philip Troke said they were alerted to the blaze by a security company which operates the communal alarm system.

"They were in such a deep sleep the alarm had not roused them," said Mr Troke.

"The flat was smoke-logged and four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went in after forcing open the door.

"The people were still in their beds and had to be led out of the house.

"They were dazed but not injured and were checked over by an ambulance crew."

He said the fire had been sparked by a blanket being left on top of a night storage heater in the lounge and had set on fire.

Mrs Spencer said was roused from her sleep when she heard a noise at the door and discovered firefighters forcing an entry.

"It was only when I got to the door that I could smell the smoke," said Mrs Spencer,

She stayed outside while firefighters went in to bring out two-year-old Liam and four-year-old Victoria, who were asleep in their mum's bedroom, and her 16-year-old son Michael Vaughan.

"I always sleep with the door closed so there was no smoke in the bedroom. I was very shocked to see the fireman there," she added.

Mrs Spencer, who sleeps with her two small children in the same room, said she had not been using the night storage heater because she understood it had a fault but suspected one of the young children had switched it on.

Her son Michael, a pupil at Greenhead Grammar School, Keighley, said he also slept with the door closed.

"I was asleep and the firemen woke me up and brought me out but I couldn't smell any smoke until I got into the corridor and I hadn't heard the alarm," he said.

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