A WOMAN escaped from her flat after setting her kitchen bin on fire on her 60th birthday.

Firefighters from Bury were called to the blaze at a kitchen flat in Deal Street on Monday night.

The Eastwood Court resident had been drinking and disposed of smoking materials in the bin, causing the fire, crews said.

Ste Urmston, watch manager at Bury Fire Station, warned people about the dangers of smoking materials and urged residents to avoid drinking and smoking.

He said: "The woman had been drinking and disposed of smoking materials in a kitchen bin.

"Thankfully her alarms worked and she evacuated.

"The fire was contained to the bin but the kitchen was left smoke-logged.

"We removed the bin from the property and cleared away the smoke."

He added: "I emphasised the dangers of drinking and smoking. It only takes the once for something to go terribly wrong."