A DISCARDED cigarette is believed to have started a fire in a laundry basket at a house in Darwen.

Crews were called to the house in Birch Hall Avenue, on Saturday night.

Firefighters from Darwen fire station attended at 9.30pm and found that a laundry basket was on fire.

Watch manager Keane said: β€œ It’s not 100 per cent clear at the moment how the fire started but we believe that it was due to a discarded cigarette.”