Firefighters discovered the curtain fire was caused by a crystal ball

Firefighters said the crystal ball on the windowsill had refracted sunlight on to the curtains, starting the blaze. The woman returned to her home in Poole, Dorset, at 1400 BST to discover the fire.

Watch manager Dave Cooper, of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The conditions were just right with a low, strong October sun."

He added: "It was a most unusual incident.

"The glass ball had literally refracted the light and set fire to the curtains.

"The lady was understandably quite shocked and called us straight away and then stayed out of the house.

"She asked us to take away the offending article - which we did of course, so it wouldn't upset her."