in the bedroom of his Pembroke home early yesterday.

Englishman Mr. Graham Stancliffe, 35, of North Shore Road, received second degree burns to his arms and legs in the blaze which gutted the bedroom.

A 26-year-old Sandys parish woman has been arrested in connection with the fire.

Mr. Stancliffe, who works at the Eden Hair and Beauty Salon on Reid Street, Hamilton, is believed to have been asleep when the fire broke out.

Eight fire appliances with 20 personnel attended the blaze.

Neighbours said that they had heard an argument at the house earlier in the evening. One said: "A couple live at the house. They were having a heated argument. A couple of hours later the Police and the fire service arrived.

"I saw them take the man away in a ambulance. He looked in a bad way. The woman was also taken to hospital with a friend.'' Mr. Stancliffe was last night said to be in stable condition in ICU. The woman was detained for observation but released yesterday.

A fire brigade spokesman said that the bedroom was completely gutted with five rooms damaged by heat and smoke.

Firemen also rescued a cat from the blaze. It required oxygen before being taken to the animal hospital in Devonshire.

Detectives and the Fire Brigade Investigation Unit are looking into the cause of the blaze.