FIRE chiefs have revealed that for the first time in seven years no deaths in accidental house fires have been recorded in Bolton.

A total of 14 people died in house fires in the previous six years.

Fire commanders have hailed the latest figures as proof that their safety campaigns are working.

The figures, for the 12 months to April, also show a 25 per cent drop in the number of accidental fires - from 370 to 275 - since 2004/5.

Bolton's borough commander, Vinny Simpson, said: "We are delighted with these results.

"They are down, at least in part, to the fact we are giving out smoke alarms and have been providing people with guidance."

The fire service has teamed up with Bolton at Home to target "at-risk" householders in deprived areas, delivering free home fire safety checks as part of a £475,000 three-year scheme.

Since April, 2006, more than 4,350 checks have been carried out at council-owned properties, while a further 2,500 private homes have also been checked.

Fire crews not only provide free smoke alarms, but also talk people through how best to escape fires and prevent them in the first place.

However, Mr Simpson said there had been a worrying rise in the number of people hurt in domestic blazes.

In the last financial year, 49 people were hurt, compared to 35 the year before.

He said: "A large proportion of those injuries were minor, in terms of people breathing in smoke.

"Undoubtedly, some of those would have been deaths if it were not for the work we have done."

He urged members of the public to get in touch to arrange a fire safety check.

Mr Simpson said: "Many people don't bother because they have a smoke alarm, but it's not just about that.

"Out of the four people who died in 2006/7, three of the homes had a working alarm, so it's also about what you do when the alarm goes off."

To arrange a home fire safety check, call Anita Davis on 01204 905128 or local fire stations.