A WOMAN had to be rescued from her burning flat after a clothes horse in her living room fell onto an electric fire.

The woman, who has not yet been named, was given oxygen and taken to Hull Royal Infirmary after the blaze began at her flat in Ousegate. Her condition is not yet known.

A North Yorkshire Fire Service spokeswoman confirmed that the fire was caused by the clothes horse.

One fire engine from York and one from Selby were called to the flat at about 8pm after reports of a fire.

They battled for an hour to fight the blaze which, they estimate, caused 20 per cent severe fire damage and 80 per cent severe smoke damage to the living room.

Extensive smoke damage was also recorded in a further three rooms.

The fire service spokeswoman said: "The female occupant was suffering from smoke inhalation.

"She was given oxygen therapy and taken to hospital. There was also a little hamster in the property which was rescued."

Updated: 08:36 Friday, February 22, 2002