FIREFIGHTERS and council staff worked for 14 hours to get a woman who is thought to weigh 40-stone out of her house.

The amazing operation to remove Karen Ball saw large parts of her home dismantled or altered to get her through doors.

Karen, who has been house bound since Christmas, needed to be checked at hospital after suffering breathing difficulties.

Council joiners and firemen worked round the clock and their operation included:

Removing the bedroom door

Dismantling the staircase

Making a hole next to the front door to get Karen through.

She was eventually released and taken to hospital for treatment.

Sub-officer Steve Hart, of Chorley Fire Station, said they were initially called to Thirlmere Road, Chorley, to help lift the woman into bed.

He said: "We were called out three times, at 2.43am, 5.50am and 8.30am on Tuesday to assist the ambulance crew at getting the woman into her bed. She was a large woman and was having difficulties with her breathing. "

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "It is a real shame, it all started going down hill for her when she was made redundant from work. I think she took the 'can't be bothered' attitude."

Steve Lomas, head of housing at Chorley Borough Council, said: "We have sent two of our joiners to the house, who had to have a consultation with the emergency services to find the best course of action.

"The bedroom door had to be removed, the staircase dismantled and the front door altered before they could get the woman out."

Firefighters put up screens around the entrance of the house to protect her dignity as neighbours looked on.