PENSIONER George Smith, 90, says is lucky to be alive after a fire tore through the bedroom of his bungalow.

Now he is warning others after telling how the blaze began when a hairdryer caught alight.

Mr Smith, of Swan Meadow, Pewsey, said his bedroom has been completed destroyed and every other room in his home bar one has smoke damage after the fire broke out just before 7am on Monday.

The former power line electrician said: “I spilled some water on my bed so I plugged in the hair dyer in but I didn’t realize it was already on when I left the room for a couple of minutes.

“When I came back in the bed was already on fire, I tried to put it out with some damp towels but the fire had got too big which is when I got out of there like a shot.

“The fire crews did a great job, it didn’t take them long once they got inside, I got out just in time.”

It took about an hour for crews from Marlborough and Pewsey to ensure that the fire was fully extinguished, but firefighters were at the scene for about two-and-a-half hours to make his home safe.

Mr Smith spent all of Monday at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, being treated for smoke inhalation.

He said: “It was a big shock to me, I’ve never had an indoor fire before this.

"I just have the clothes I am standing in, as I have lost everything else.

“We take electricity for granted nowadays but you forget how dangerous it can be.”

The property was assessed by his insurance company yesterday and Mr Smith has been told that the repair work is likely to take up to six months.

He said: “I am buying clothes today and then I will have to look for somewhere more permanent to live while the work is being done as I have been in temporary lodgings for the past few days.”

“I don’t have any family close as my son Andrew lives in Somerset.”

A Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesman said: “Electrical items should always be switched off when not in use, and should never be left on bedding or anything that could easily catch alight.

“We have had fires in the past where hair straighteners have been left on and unattended, or laptop computers have been left on charge on top of the duvet. As this incident has shown, it only takes minutes for a fire to develop and destroy your home.”

Free home fire safety checks can be requested from the service by calling 0800 389 7849 or visiting wiltsfire.gov.uk.