A DISABLED pensioner, unable to flee from his blazing home, was engulfed in flames while sitting in a chair.

Harold Turner, aged 63, has mobility problems and was stuck in the house as black smoke and flames spread.

His living room chair and then his clothes caught fire as flames spread at his home in Abbey Lane, Leigh, on Saturday morning.

The alarm was raised when Doreen Fitzpatrick, a friend of Mr Turner, let herself into the house through the front door, and discovered it full of thick, black smoke.

She alerted next-door neighbour Michael Felton, who fought his way into the house and extinguished flames on Mr Turner's clothes.

But he was forced out of the house when he found it difficult to breathe.

Mr Turner, who has to use a walking frame, was eventually rescued by firefighters. He was in a serious condition in hospital today with 60 per cent burns.

Mr Felton, aged 66, said: "The chair was blazing and the flames were all over him. All his clothes were on fire."

Firefighters arrived within minutes and Mr Turner was rushed to Wigan Infirmary with major burns to his face and back.

He was later transferred to Wythenshawe Burns Unit.

Mr Felton, who suffered burns to a hand, was also taken to Wigan Infirmary while Miss Fitzpatrick, aged 60, was given oxygen at the scene.

An investigation has been started to determine the cause of the fire.

Mr Felton said the chair that had been ablaze was new and was heated electrically.