DETECTIVES believe a 41-year-old Trowbridge woman could have died in a fire at her home if a fire alarm had not been fitted.

The victim, who lives in a two-bedroom flat in Talbot Road, woke in the early hours of Saturday morning to find smoke billowing from downstairs

Covering herself in a duvet the woman realised her front door had been set alight and used the bedding to douse the flames.

Det Con Alan Hardman said the fire appeared to have started after a piece of cardboard, used to cover a cat flap, had been set alight.

"This lady was very lucky she was not killed," he said. "She had gone to bed at 12.45am and two to three hours later was woken up by her smoke alarm going. She managed to run down through the smoke and douse the flames with the quilt."

DC Hardman said if the fire had gone undetected it could have spread to neighbouring properties.

Police are appealing for any witnesses in the area of Studley Green and Talbot Road between 2am and 5am on Saturday to contact them.

A 25-year-old Trowbridge man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, and released on police bail.