A FAMILY of five escaped unhurt when their washing machine caught fire last night.

The father carried the machine outside of his semi-detached Crompton Way, Bolton, house while two of his three young children slept upstairs.

Firefighters arrived just before 8pm. They soaked the machine and unscrewed the back to make sure the fire was out.

It is thought that the machine's motor may have overheated while the family were doing their washing.