AN elderly couple narrowly escaped a fire at their home after being woken by a new special device aimed at people without hearing. Dorothy Smalley, 73, who is profoundly deaf, was alerted to the blaze by a vibrating smoke alarm pad placed under her pillow.

She then woke her husband Bill, 75, and they fled their bungalow in Draperfield, Chorley, as emergency services were called.

The drama unfolded at around 2.50am on Monday when drips from a leaking conservatory roof caused a short circuit in a plugged-in tumble-drier.

The drier then ignited and fire spread through the conservatory.

Dorothy, who has been deaf for around 30 years, is in no doubt that the pillow smoke alarm saved the couple.

She said: “It was around six months ago that social services did an assessment and asked the fire service to install some safety equipment.

“I felt the pad vibrate, woke up Bill and said ‘there’s a fire’.

"When I think about what the consequences could have been, it makes me shudder.

“I would say to everybody, ‘make sure your smoke alarms are working.’ “They could easily save your life.”

Dorothy and Bill were treated for smoke inhalation at Chorley Hospital.

Their bungalow had fire damage to the conservatory and smoke damage throughout.

So far this year, 64 of the safety devices have been installed in Chorley and 639 in Lancashire as a whole.

Watch manager Wes Truran, from Chorley fire station, said: “The vibrating pads are designed for people who are hearing impaired to give them vital early warning of smoke.

“It’s gratifying that the equipment had recently been fitted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service as part of their Home Fire Safety Check.

Anyone requiring a home fire safety check can call the fire service on 0800 1691125.