A HOME care assistant turned lifesaver yesterday when she pulled an elderly woman from a blazing bed.

The carer arrived at Mabel Franklin's house in Oaks Avenue, Bradshaw, just before 12.30pm to find the sheets alight.

Jacqueline Stanley dialled 999 to alert firemen, while colleague Kim Neald began to pull Mrs Franklin - 77 and bed-ridden - from her home.

The carers managed to guide the elderly woman to safety and sat her on a chair outside as fire crews arrived.

Officers wearing breathing apparatus used one hose reel to extinguish the flames which are thought to have caught hold after a cigarette was dropped.

Mrs Franklin was taken by ambulance to the Royal Bolton Hospital's casualty department, suffering from the effects of smoke. A fire spokesman praised the actions of the quick-thinking care assistant who managed to pull Mrs Franklin from the burning bed.

He added: "Visits from care assistants are pre-arranged so it was very fortunate that this lady was there when she was. "It's fortunate that she was there because otherwise it could have been a lot worse."

Mrs Franklin was discharged from hospital yesterday and is now being cared for in Firwood House home on Crompton Way.

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