A QUICK-thinking milkman acted to stop a potential house fire as he did his early morning round.

A resident living in Shoreswood in Astley Bridge had gone to bed and left a candle burning in the porch area of their house, which was in danger of catching fire.

At about 4am as he delivered milk to the house, the milkman spotted the burning candle and alerted the fire service.

Crews from Crompton Way arrived and put the candle flame out before it set any of the house alight.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "The milkman was rightly concerned that the candle was left burning and could have caused a fire.

"We would advise people not to leave candles unattended and burning at night."