A SLEEPING pensioner escaped serious injury thanks to the rapid reactions of two community support officers during a kitchen blaze.

Beryl Hannan, 69, of Moorfield Road, Halton View, Widnes, had dozed off in her living room after forgetting she'd left a pan of chicken soup simmering on the stove.

Within minutes the pan caught fire but, despite thick, black smoke coming from the pan, Beryl was oblivious to the emergency.

By pure chance, two community support officers were on foot patrol by Beryl's bungalow and they sprang into action after first smelling - then seeing - smoke pouring from an external vent.

After looking through the window and spotting Beryl fast asleep the pair spent several minutes banging on the window and front door to rouse the pensioner.

Once inside, the officers made sure Beryl was safe and they managed to remove the burning pan from the building themselves. They opened doors and windows to vent the toxic fumes and stayed with the woman while she recovered from the shock.

Later, Beryl said she realised how lucky she was to be alive, especially as no smoke detectors had been fitted in her house, and she lavished praise on her rescuers, Steve Hill and Lisa Shaw.

Beryl said: 'I was so frightened I couldn't believe it. When the officers told me there was smoke pouring out of the kitchen vent I was flabbergasted. When we opened the door to the kitchen all I could see was clouds of black smoke.

'Somebody up there was looking after me. For the officers to do what they did was great and they were both lovely. I am grateful to them. I could have been dead. What if they hadn't come by?'

Lisa said: 'We were both really relieved that Beryl was unscathed by the incident and when she had recovered from the shock we advised her to consider getting a smoke alarm. Incidents like these can easily be prevented.'

Cheshire Fire Service has since fitted smoke detectors to the home and Beryl admitted the incident has 'taught her a lesson'.