AN ELDERLY woman escaped a blaze at her house last night which started when she knocked over a burning candle.

The woman - in her 80s - left the semi, in Northdown Road, Welling, to alert a neighbour when the fire took hold at about 10.50pm.

But by the time firefighters arrived, the house was 50 per cent alight.

They spent two hours tackling the blaze, which spread quickly after the candle flame caught onto some clothes.

The dining room is now completely burnt out and the rest of the house is smoke damaged.

The woman was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, as a precaution for shock and smoke inhalation.

Bexley fire station watch manager John Newing said: "When we got there she said she'd knocked over a candle and kept apologising.

"It could have happened to anyone but at that age, she is really lucky because it could have been a lot worse."

A crew from Bexley and two from Erith attended the scene. Fire investigators concluded the fire was accidental.