A Prestonpans woman has warned people not to leave their tumble dryers on overnight or when out, after hers caught fire.

Jennifer Reynolds took to social media to share her ordeal, saying she was at her home in Inchview when her dryer upstairs caught fire.

The woman, who was home with her dog, phoned friend Gary Archibald who arrived and threw the burning clothes out the window.

When this then set fire to a washing line outside, the duo called 999.

Jennifer said: “If you have a tumble dryer… I beg you please, please never leave it on when you’re out or in bed.

“Thankfully I was in the house today when the clothes inside caught fire.

“My dryer is upstairs so [it was] not immediately apparent what was happening but I could smell a burning, melting, putrid smell. I knew something was wrong.

“I ran down to Winnie and grabbed a fire extinguisher and phoned [friend] Gary, who grabbed his cape – as he does – and bolted along.

“When he opened the dryer the clothes were alight. He threw them out the window, which then set fire to my washing that was hanging out. Absolute chaos!

“It was obvious we needed help.

“I dialled 999 and was told by them later that if Gary hadn’t done what he had done, and if I hadn’t called them when I did, the whole house would be ablaze.

“Thankfully the damage is contained to the spare room and we have both been checked over by the ambulance service and are fine… I’m just in shock.

“Huge kudos to Gary, Musselburgh and Newcraighall fire service and also the lovely girls from the ambulance service.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 3.51pm on Sunday, April 23 to reports of a dwelling fire in Prestonpans.

“Operations control mobilised two fire appliances to the town’s Inchview, where firefighters extinguished a fire which had taken hold of a household appliance.

“Crews left the scene after working to make the area safe.

“One casualty was assessed at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service but did not require to attend hospital.”