A resident who carried a burning electric heater out of his house after it sparked a blaze has spoken of the incident which has left him homeless.

The fire, which broke out at a semi-detached house in Brown Street, Trowbridge, at about midday yesterday, is believed to have been caused by a faulty heater.

The 38-year-old man who lodges at the house was injured during the fire when he carried the heater out of the house.

The lodger, who wished to remain anonymous, said he could also face unemployment with his job at Honda in Swindon looking uncertain.

He said: “I’m a Honda worker as well so it hasn’t been a great year for me.

“I’ve got to find somewhere else to live because the room is totally gutted.

“I think maybe my dressing gown fell onto my electric heater, but the fire brigade told me that they think the heater might be faulty.

“I was in the bathroom at the time cutting my hair and there was a banging on the door - I think it was the neighbours.

“I went to my room and noticed the heater had been knocked over. The room was totally covered in smoke. I couldn’t see from one side of the room to the other and it’s only a small room, about 10ft by 6ft.

“My first thought was just to get the heater outside. I know the fire brigade are only up the road but you don’t know how long they are going to take.

“I grabbed the heater, carried it downstairs and through the house, and then chucked it in the back garden.

“As I went back into the house there were cinders of my dressing gown on the floor, so I stamped them out.

“I went back to my room opened up the window and went outside to try and catch my breath.

“My throat was tight but apart from that I felt fine. I didn’t think I had burnt myself until I was at the hospital.”

The man was given oxygen by paramedics at the scene.

He was taken to Trowbridge Community Hospital were he was treated for smoke inhalation and burns to his hand.

Two fire crews from Trowbridge and one from Bradford on Avon were called to the fire and used two breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet to extinguish it.

The fire service then used mechanical ventilators to clear the house of smoke.

The Honda worker praised the fire service for their efforts. He said: “The fire brigade were great, They were really efficient and made sure I was alright before entering the house and you can’t ask for more than that.”