THE kitchen of a bungalow was badly damaged by fire after washing accidentally caught alight.

The fire in Marlbrook Drive, Westhoughton, is believed to have started after an electric cooker was left on by accident while the home owner was out and a pile of washing caught alight. The home owner returned home to find the kitchen already alight and tried to extinguish the blaze with water.

He needed oxygen therapy from the fire crew, but declined hospital treatment.