PENSIONER Tony Pugh owes his life to his antique furniture.

He narrowly escaped choking to death from a fire in his Pensby home because his armchair was stuffed with horsehair.

Modern furniture emits deadly chemicals when hit by fire.

A fire brigade spokesman said Mr Pugh was lucky to be alive.

Firefighters rescued Mr Pugh from his burning flat above Pensby Road Post Office after neighbours raised the alarm in the early hours of Friday morning.

Three fire engines attended the flat, which is on the first and second floor above the Post Office.

Alex McDougal, spokesman for Merseyside Fire Service, said: "The man, who lived alone in the flat, was rescued and taken to Arrowe Park Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. He is very lucky to be alive because he did not have smoke alarms fitted in the flat.

Mr McDougal went on: "One of the reasons we think he escaped is because the furniture he had in the flat was all very old.

"The main chair in the living room was stuffed with horsehair - had it been filled with modern foam and plastics he might not have made it.

"A lot of modern furniture gives off deadly chemicals when it burns - such as cyanide - but when the firemen were in the room after the fire they said that their eyes didn't smart like they usually do. We think it was his furniture that saved him."

The flat was severely damaged by the fire and the Post Office suffered severe water and smoke damage.

q Merseyside Fire Service would like to remind readers that they can have smoke alarms fitted free of charge by telephoning 0800 731 5958.