A TERRIFIED couple leaped for their lives from a bedroom window after waking to find themselves trapped in their blazing home

Shocked Ian and Dorothy Roddie jumped from the first floor window in their nightclothes to escape the flames engulfing their terraced house on Nebraska Street, Halliwell.

Mr Roddie, aged 40, used a portable gas fire to smash through the double glazed bedroom window after the couple woke to find themselves cut off by flames at about 5am yesterday.

He then threw a mattress on to the pavement below to provide a soft landing for himself and his 47-year-old wife.

Firefighters arrived to find the house well alight and broke down the front door of the house next door fearing neighbours could be in danger. Fortunately they were out and police evacuated other homes on the terrace.

Paramedics rushed the couple to the Royal Bolton Hospital but amazingly both escaped the ordeal with just minor injuries and were later discharged. Afterwards Mr Roddie said: "I woke up choking on the fumes and heard glass breaking and something banging.

"I looked downstairs and saw the flames. I knew we had to break the window to get out because I had seen safety videos years ago when I was in the army.

" I just threw a Calor gas fire at the window. It took a few goes because of the double glazing but I was determined it was going to go through no matter what. We panicked a bit getting the mattress out because it was difficult squeezing it through the window but once it was through we just just jumped straight out." Today Christmas baubles lay among the charred remains of the couples' belongings which were piled at the front and rear of the boarded up house.

They lost everything in the blaze but Mr Roddie added: "We are pretty shaken up and absolutely devastated but when you think what could have happened, it could have been so much worse.

"Family and friends have been brilliant and I would like to thank everyone who has supported us." A leading fireman said: "They were very lucky indeed but it's a shame they did not have a smoke alarm, it would have given them more warning."

Firefighters are compiling a report on the cause of the blaze which started in the lounge.

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