A 41-year-old woman was rescued by neighbours this morning after a blaze engulfed her bedroom.

The incident at about 11 a.m. in an apartment in Balbi Street, Marsa. It is thought to have been caused by a cigarette which set a mattress alight.

Three men who had noticed smoke forced their way into the apartment and rescued the woman, who was treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire was extinguished by fire-fighters of the Civil Protection Department.

Such was the ferocity of the blaze that an architect ordered the evacuation of residents of apartments above and below the woman’s apartment.