BY IAN CROUCH

Police say a cigarette lighter was the cause of a fire which destroyed a house at East Gresford last night.

A female resident had just sprayed insecticide under the lounge of her Park Street home just after 7.00pm when she found a cigarette lighter.

However, when she checked to see if it still worked, the vapors from the fly spray ignited, setting fire to the lounge.

The 48-year-old woman and her 5 children fled for their lives as the flames quickly spread and engulfed the home.

The Gresford Rural Fire Service was conducting training nearby and noticed the flames and raced to the scene.

Around 20 firefighters battled the flames, but despite the best efforts, the house was destroyed.