DOZENS of students were evacuated from Bolton Institute halls of residence following a blaze last night.

Up to 30 people were forced to leave A Block halls on Radcliffe Road at around 6.30pm after a chip pan set on fire.

Firefighters from Bolton Central and Bolton North stations used breathing apparatus to extinguish the flames.

Sub-officer Tony Smyth praised the quick actions of student, Susan Evans, who discovered the fire.

He said: "It could have been far worse but the girl did exactly the right thing. She didn't try to tackle the fire herself.

"As soon as she discovered it she left the kitchen, closed the door, smashed the alarm to activate it and then everyone got out." The kitchen was badly smoke-damaged.

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