AN elderly couple have been left homeless after returning to find their roof had collapsed due to an “intense” fire.

The blaze at the semi-detached house, in Sidford Close, Darcy Lever, is thought to have been caused by a wood burner in the garden, and an investigation is continuing.

The couple were not in the house at the time, and the adjoining house only suffered smoke damage in the loft.

Firefighters were called at about 3.30pm today and the road is still blocked off as they continue to dampen down the fire.

They managed to prevent it from spreading to the adjoining house, but the severity of the blaze caused the roof to collapse.

Joan Blagdon, aged 42, who lives next door, said she heard a loud noise and ran out to see what had happened.

She said: "I heard cracking next door so I ran out and saw the fire. I also heard a lady screaming, who had rung the fire brigade after seeing it.

"My first thought was to check if they were in the house, so I smashed a glass panel in the door, and thankfully they weren't in."

A fire service spokesman confirmed the fire involved the roof of both houses, and that crews from Bolton central, Bolton north, Rochdale and Hyde fire stations attended after receiving reports of a “fierce” blaze.

Station Manager Phil Nelson said: “The crew did well to stop the fire from spreading. They worked really hard at the scene.

“The fire was very intense. When crew arrived the flames were as high as the house – an outbuilding, decking and hedgerow were heavily involved and the fire spread to the roof.”

Four fire engines were supported by an aerial appliance to allow the crew to fight the fire from above, as well as tackling the incident from the ground.