FIRE crews saved a woman’s life by carrying her from a burning Bournemouth flat.

They found her lying in bed either sleeping or unconscious as flames destroyed her home.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said she suffered “quite serious smoke inhalation” and was last night being treated in hospital.

Station manager Neil Ricketts told the Echo at the scene: “I think in another couple of minutes it could have been a fatality rather than a rescue.”

The blaze broke out in the first floor living room at the front of a detached property in Methuen Road, Charminster.

Crews from Redhill and Spring-bourne were called at 5.30pm.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using water jets went inside, found her, and with the help of two colleagues carried her down the internal stairs to safety.

Mr Ricketts said: “There was a smoke alarm but the battery was not connected to the contacts so was effectively useless.”

He added: “It was a severe fire. You can see half the flat is destroyed. The crews did a great job considering the smoke logging.”

Resident Patricia Nunn, 62, a retired supervisor, said: “You could see the flames through the window and the smoke was unbelievable. It was quite scary.

“The firefighters laid the lady on the grass. When the paramedics took her away you could see her hands were covered in soot.”

Mike Rundle, in his 50s, who works for an investment company, said: “Two of the firefighters carried her out under their arms.”

Fire Investigation Officer Andy Fox said all indications were the fire started accidentally by the front window.

Dorset Police said it was not thought to be suspicious.

The A350 is reopen today after a fire at a house in Charlton Marshall yesterday. A couple had to jump for their lives from a first floor window. It took 16 hours to make the house safe so the road could be reopened. Read the full story