TWO pensioners who died in a Bolton hotel blaze perished in a smoke-filled corridor as temperatures soared to a staggering 800 degrees, fire investigators have revealed.

The couple were overcome by fumes as flames and smoke swept through a section of corridor outside their room on the third floor of Bolton's Moat House Hotel.

Det Supt Dave Jones, head of Bolton CID, who is in charge of the investigation, said the temperatures soared as the fire took hold, sweeping through the corridor.

He said: "We have been informed by the fire service and forensic experts that the temperatures were in the region of 800 degrees Centigrade.

"What you have to appreciate is that it was a very confined area, just a relatively short section of corridor."

Blackpool pensioners William and Margaret Robertson were found by firefighters in the corridor. The 75-year-old man and his 81-year-old wife died of smoke inhalation.

Three portable beds, which had been temporarily stored in the corridor propped up against a wall by the pensioners' room, had been set alight. Detectives admit that a "human element" is thought responsible for causing the blaze but it has not yet been confirmed as arson.

Specialised fire and smoke doors prevented the blaze, which created such searing heat, from spreading throughout the four-star Higher Bridge Street hotel.

Detectives and fire investigators are continuing to probe the blaze from which 128 guests fled just after 12.30am on Tuesday, April 24.

Yesterday the BEN revealed that the hotel fire could be featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.