An elderly Worthing woman suffered burns to her hands trying to tackle a chip pan fire last night.

Elsie White was injured trying to put a damp tea towel over the blazing pan.

The heat forced her and a neighbour into the hall, where they were found by firefighters.

The blaze erupted at a house in Wykeham Road as the occupant and her neighbour were talking in the lounge.

They were alerted by the smoke alarm and attempted to put out the fire, which severely damaged the kitchen and smokelogged the rest of the property.

In addition to sustaining minor burns, Elsie's hair was singed and she was affected by smoke but declined hospital treatment.

A fire spokesman said: "She was trying to put the fire out with a towel. She was following the right procedure but by then it was a bit late to be tackling it.

"I think it is a natural reaction, but it is not always the best policy. In these situations it is better to shut the door to the room, call the fire brigade and get out of the house.

"When we got there they were still in the house, quite shaken up by the whole thing."