A 90-year-old woman from a Watford care home suffered burns to her hands and face after attempting to beat out a fire in a pair of flaming curtains.

Fire fighters from Watford station were called to Harrowgate Court, in Harrowgate Road, after a fire alarm was set off.

But when they arrived they discovered 90-year-old Lilly MacAlvoy had tackled the blaze with her bare hands.

Crew commander David Tams said he believed the fire started when some water splashed into a pan of cooking oil, which caught fire, and spread to the curtains.

He added: “Mrs MacAlvoy managed to put the fire out with her bare hands. We treated her for burns before she went to hospital.

“She was fantastic. They don't make them like that anymore.”