AN elderly woman had a lucky escape after a fire broke out in her home last night.

The blaze, at Manor Road, Hanbury Park, Worcester, started at around 10pm.

The woman, who has not been named, was alerted after the electricity went off in her home, as she was watching television upstairs.

She struggled to find her way downstairs, when she discovered a glow coming from the electricity mains in the hall.

The woman rushed outside to raise the alarm with neighbours, who called the fire brigade.

By the time the fire engines arrived five minutes later, the hallway was ablaze.

Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade, said the woman was in a state of shock about the damage to her property.

"She was very lucky to have been able to get out herself and raise the alarm, if she has been asleep it might have been a different story," he said.

"She would probably not have been able to get out of the house herself and we would we would have had difficulty getting upstairs."

There were three fire engines and up to 15 firefighters from Worcester Fire Station at the scene, with breathing apparatus and ventilation equipment, to clear the smoke from the property.

Heat and smoke caused extensive damage downstairs in the house, but the woman, who lives alone, did not need hospital treatment.

The electricity board was also called to the scene to isolate the mains supply.

The fire crews remained at the scene until 12.45am.