A GRANDMOTHER who collapsed after having a diabetic seizure was saved when a pot of water she left boiling set off her smoke alarm alerting neighbours.

Margaret Shearer's neighbours in Brownlow Fold saved her life by banging on her door to keep her conscious and then calling an ambulance and the fire service.

David and Carol Ramsay saw that she could not move and so kept her awake — while fellow neighbour Maria Isherwood dialled 999.

The 65-year-old suffered a hypoglycaemic attack at 7.50pm on Tuesday as she had run out of insulin and was waiting for the next batch to arrive.

Firefighters broke in through the back door and Miss Shearer was treated by paramedics at her neighbours' home.

Miss Shearer, of Shelley Walk, said: "My neighbours are absolute heroes — they really are.

"I don't remember much — all I can remember is I couldn't get off my sofa and I heard a bang.

"I kept saying 'I can't get up, I can't get up' and the next thing I remember was being lifted up and taken to Carol's house.

"I'm so grateful to everyone involved for helping me. I'm a lot better now."

Miss Shearer's son William Gallagher, aged 41, of Oldhams Terrace, Astley Bridge, said: "I want to thank all the people who helped my mum.

"If it wasn't for them hearing the smoke alarm and taking decisive action, my mother would be dead."

Mr and Mrs Ramsay, who live next door to Miss Shearer, were sat together watching TV when they realised something was wrong.

Mr Ramsay, aged 68, said: "We couldn't see much but we could smell smoke and we heard Margaret in distress, so we had to keep banging on the door until the fire and ambulance services arrived.

"We just did what anybody else would do in that situation."

Mrs Isherwood, aged 52, was at a friend's house in Shelley Walk when Miss Shearer suffered the seizure.

She said: "Carol knocked on the door and said there was smoke everywhere and the fire alarm was going off.

"I tried breaking down the door, but I didn't have the strength, so I phoned the fire brigade and ambulance service straight away.

"I wouldn't say we were heroes — we were just being good neighbours."

Chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority David Acton said: “This incident proves that a working smoke alarm can save someone’s life during a fire.

“If it wasn’t for the alarm, the quick actions of the lady’s neighbours and the work of firefighters, this incident could have had a very tragic outcome."